Outsiders move past MOUZ to qualify for IEM Rio Major playoffs

The penultimate day of the IEM Rio Major Legends stage is underway, with Outsiders making it through to the playoffs from the first qualification match of the day. They won Overpass (16-10) and Inferno (16-10) against MOUZ, getting revenge for a loss against the European combine in the Challengers Stage. The Russian squad advances to the bracket stage of the Major with a 3-1 record, having previously beaten Spirit and Ninjas in Pyjamas.

For MOUZ this isn’t the end of the road, as the Christopher “⁠dexter⁠” Nong-led team has one more chance on Tuesday when they will play for their tournament lives and a spot in the playoffs in the 2-2 pool.

The series started on Overpass, where Outsiders began their map pick with a flawless pistol round and following conversion. MOUZ got their first as soon as their economy allowed it, tying up the scores and taking a 5-3 lead. Petr “⁠fame⁠” Bolyshev came up with a huge play just as the European combine started running away with the map, as he crept through the A site to shoot three unsuspecting CTs in the back. That enabled Outsiders to get up to six before two rounds by MOUZ set the halftime score at 9-6 in their favor.

Outsiders got their second pistol of the map to start their defensive half, equalizing the score in no time. As has been the norm at the Rio Major, the Russian squad put together an impressive CT side, winning all but one round in the second half to close out the map 16-10. Dzhami “⁠Jame⁠” Ali and fame led the way, putting up 29 and 27 kills respectively.

fame continued his fantastic performance and won the pistol round for Outsiders on Inferno with a quad-kill, as the Russian squad took an early lead. MOUZ fought back vigorously, taking control of the map with the help of Jon “⁠JDC⁠” de Castro, who got five entry kills in the first half. The European combine outmaneuvered the CT side to take a three-round lead before a late resurgence by Outsiders reduced the deficit to just one.

MOUZ won their first pistol of the series in the second half, but Outsiders promptly answered back with a force-buy win that started with Alexey “⁠Qikert⁠” Golubev‘s Tec-9 kill through a smoke. Outsiders identified a weakness in the defense on the A site, a gap they exploited round after round to put themselves four rounds ahead. A collateral by Jame in the penultimate round of the game put them in arms reach of the playoffs, the Russian squad closing out the map 16-10 to become the third Major playoff team.