Cloud9 has become the 13th team to qualify for the Perfect World Shanghai Major, emerging as the third successful contender from Europe RMR A. Their victory came after a grueling series against Tomáš “oskar” Šťastný’s SINNERS, sealing their place in the prestigious tournament.
Kirill “Boombl4” Mikhailov and his team showed resilience after a shaky start to their RMR campaign, which began with a tough loss to FaZe Clan. However, they bounced back with commanding wins over Nemiga and Sangal, setting the stage for their decisive match against SINNERS. While the qualification is significant, Cloud9’s journey isn’t over yet. They are likely to compete in the Europe RMR’s fourth-place decider due to their Bucholz score, which is expected to be among the lowest of the remaining 3-1 teams. This additional match will determine if they advance to the Elimination Stage or start in the Opening Stage of the Major.
The qualifying clash began on Cloud9’s chosen map, Mirage. The first half was a tight contest, ending at 6-6, thanks to a pivotal 1v4 clutch by Kaisar “ICY” Faiznurov. After switching to the offense, SINNERS struggled against a reinvigorated ICY, whose standout performance propelled Cloud9 to a 13-7 victory, boasting an impressive 2.00 rating.
On their own map pick of Vertigo, SINNERS showed strength on defense, closing the first half with an 8-4 lead. Despite taking the second pistol round, their offensive efforts faltered briefly before Sebastian “beastik” Daňo delivered the momentum shift they needed to secure a 13-9 win, forcing the series to the final map.
Dust2 proved to be a nail-biter. SINNERS appeared to have the upper hand, entering halftime with a 7-5 lead and extending their advantage with three consecutive rounds. However, Cloud9 staged a remarkable comeback on defense, led once again by ICY. Their tenacity allowed them to reclaim control and edge out a 13-11 victory, clinching their ticket to the Shanghai Major.
For SINNERS, the defeat marked the end of their Major aspirations, while Cloud9’s triumph solidified their position among Europe’s top contenders heading into the next stage.
