Complexity showed their superiority in the opening match of the IEM Cologne group stage by defeating Virtus.pro on three cards (Vertigo 13-6, Dust2 14-16, Anubis 13-5). This confrontation was especially interesting as the teams met again after their recent game at the Esports World Cup, where Virtus.pro easily won 2-0.

Complexity's game against Virtus.pro at IEM Cologne immediately caught the fans' attention, as it was a rematch after the Esports World Cup, where Virtus.pro easily won 2-0. This time it was different: Complexity clearly drew conclusions from past mistakes and showed that they can seriously compete with the VP.

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Match details and key moments

The series began on Vertigo, where a powerful attack by Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski and his team allowed Complexity to dominate from the start, securing a 9-3 lead. A particular highlight came in round eight, when Michael "Grim" Wince won an important 1v3 clutch that finally turned the tide of the game in Complexity's favor.

On the second map, Dust2, Virtus.pro managed to get off to a good start, but they were unable to adapt to their opponent's tactical changes, which led to overtime. Despite the efforts of Denis "electroNic" Sharipov, who brought Virtus.pro a victory on Dust2 in one of the decisive moments, they did not have enough energy for the third map.

Anubis was the decisive map where Complexity showed their strength once again. Clutch kills from EliGE and Ricky "floppy" Kemery gave the team an 8-4 win in the first half. In the second half Complexity finished the match with confidence, winning 13-5 and securing their passage to the top division of Group B.

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Conclusion

Complexity's win not only allowed them to advance through the grid, but also showed their significant progress from their previous games. The North American team will now face the winner of the match between MOUZ and Falcons, while Virtus.pro will have to fight for survival in the loser's bracket. Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski said: "We have progressed throughout the tournament, and this gives us confidence for future games".