NaVi, MongolZ qualify for IEM Katowice playoffs

Natus Vincere and The MongolZ clinched playoff spots at the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice by winning Group B upper-bracket semifinal matches on Monday in Poland.

NaVi eked out a 2-1 win over Team Sports, while The MongolZ dumped GamerLegion 2-0.

In other Group B action on Monday, Astralis edged FURIA Esports 2-1 while Team Liquid toppled MOUZ, both in lower-bracket quarterfinals.

The Group A lower-bracket semifinals also were contested, with FaZe Clan nipping G2 Esports 2-1 and Eternal Fire rallying past 3DMAX 2-1.

Group play has 16 teams split into two double-elimination brackets, with all matches best-of-three. The two group-phase winners will advance directly to the playoff semifinals, the two group-phase runners-up will move to the quarterfinals as high seeds, and the two third-place teams will make the quarterfinals as low seeds.

The playoffs will be single elimination, with best-of-three matches for the quarterfinals and semifinals ahead of a best-of-five grand final on Sunday. The champion will earn $400,000.

On Monday, Natus Vincere opened with 13-8 win on Mirage before Team Spirit captured Dust II 13-11. On the decisive third map, Nuke, NaVi pulled out a 16-14 overtime victory.

Lithuania's Justinas "jL" Lekavicius amassed 60 kills and a plus-10 K-D differential for Natus Vincere. Russia's Danil "donk" Kryshkovets registered 71 kills and a plus-22 K-D differential.

The MongolZ dumped GamerLegion 13-10 on Nuke and 13-5 on Mirage. Garidmagnai "bLitz" Byambasuren finished with 38 kills and a plus-15 K-D differential for the all-Mongolian victors. Sweden's Fredrik "REZ" Sterner and the Czech Republic's Oldrich "PR" Novy each logged 29 kills for GamerLegion.

Astralis sandwiched a 13-10 win on Inferno and a 13-11 victory on Nuke around a 13-8 loss to FURIA Esports on Dust II. Nicolai "device" Reedtz recorded 45 kills and a plus-7 K-D differential for all-Danish Astralis. Felipe "skullz" Medeiros topped all-Brazilian FURIA with 53 kills and a plus-11 K-D differential.

FaZe Clan managed a 16-13 overtime victory on Ancient, but G2 Esports pulled level with a 13-10 win on Inferno. FaZe sealed the series with a 13-8 decision on Nuke.

Slovakia's David "frozen" Cernansky was the key performer for FaZe with 59 kills and a plus-18 K-D differential. Guatemala's Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa logged 52 kills but had a minus-2 K-D differential.

3DMAX started with a 13-4 blowout on Inferno, but Eternal Fire recovered for a 16-13 overtime win on Anubis and a 13-10 triumph on Dust II.

Samet "jottAAA" Koklu had 57 kills and a plus-14 K-D differential for all-Turkish Eternal Fire. Pierre "Ex3rcice" Bulinge wound up with 49 kills and a level K-D differential for all-French 3DMAX.

Six matches are scheduled for Tuesday:

--Virtus.pro vs. Team Vitality (Group A upper-bracket final)

--FaZe Clan vs. Eternal Fire (Group A lower-bracket final)

--Natus Vincere vs. The MongolZ (Group B upper-bracket final)

--GamerLegion vs. Astralis (Group B lower-bracket semifinal)

--Team Spirit vs. Team Liquid (Group B lower-bracket semifinal)

--GamerLegion/Astralis winner vs. Spirit/Liquid winner (Group B lower-bracket final)

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice prize pool:

1. $400,000

2. $180,000

3-4. $80,000

5-6. $40,000

7-8. $24,000

9-12. $16,000 -- G2 Esports, 3DMAX, two teams TBD

13-16. $10,000 -- Team Falcons, BIG, FURIA Esports, MOUZ

17-20. $4,500 -- Wildcard, paiN Gaming, MIBR, HEROIC

21-24. $2,500 -- Complexity, FlyQuest, SAW, Imperial Female

--Field Level Media