BetBoom upset The MongolZ 2-1 to open IEM Cologne Stage 3

BetBoom defeated The MongolZ 2-1 at the IEM Cologne Major, opening their Stage 3 campaign in Cologne. The series went three maps, with BetBoom losing the Dust2 opener before winning Mirage and the Ancient decider.

Map scores were 11-13 on Dust2, 13-6 on Mirage and 13-11 on Ancient. BetBoom lost both pistol rounds on Mirage but still won 13-6. On Ancient, BetBoom secured the decider by winning a late 2v4 clutch and two eco rounds that shifted the economic balance.

Timur ‘FL4MUS’ Marev led BetBoom across the series with a 54-47 kill-death line, 87.2 average damage per round and a 1.25 rating. He has averaged a 1.25 rating over 13 maps at Cologne so far. Kirill ‘Boombl4’ Mikhailov finished 48-43 with a 77.7 ADR and a 1.11 rating.

For The MongolZ, Usukhbayar ‘910’ Banzragch posted 58-49, an 86.1 ADR and a 1.20 rating. Garidmagnai ‘bLitz’ Byambasuren recorded 48-47 with an 87.2 ADR and a 1.09 rating. Other MongolZ players contributed across the series, and several late rounds on Ancient determined the match outcome.

On broadcast, Kirill ‘Boombl4’ Mikhailov reflected: ‘It was really hard. We lost some crucial rounds and they got economy, but we won some force rounds with two guns. It was insane.’

BetBoom reached Stage 3 after earlier wins over GamerLegion and Liquid and a single defeat to Spirit across the first two stages in Cologne. Marev has been filling in for the sidelined Pavel ‘S1ren’ Ogloblin at the Major after earlier replacing Daniil ‘d1Ledez’ Kustov during the lead-up to the event.

The victory gives BetBoom a win to start Stage 3 at IEM Cologne and advances them in the tournament bracket. The MongolZ remain in the event with their Stage 3 schedule to be determined by the tournament format.