The match between FURIA and Imperial fe at the IEM Katowice 2025 Play-In went down in history as the first LAN match between a male and female team in professional Counter-Strike 2. This tournament is one of the main events of the season, and the game has become a showcase for female esports.

Mirage comeback: a triumphant fight

The first Mirage map started under the dictation of FURIA, who confidently took 11 rounds, leaving Imperial fe only three. But the female team was not going to give up. Despite the pressure, Imperial fe won 9 rounds in a row, leveled the score and even took the lead at 12:11. Unfortunately, in the decisive moments of overtime, FURIA managed to turn the tide and won the map with a score of 16:13.

On Dust2, the Brazilian team left no chance for their opponents. FURIA quickly finished the game with a score of 13:1, showing an absolute advantage on this map.

Factors that influenced the game

Imperial fe played with a forced substitution: team captain tory was unable to take part in the tournament due to circumstances, and her place was taken by coach bubble. Nevertheless, the team demonstrated significant potential and proved that it could fight even against strong opponents.

Player stats

• zAAz stood out among Imperial fe, scoring 28 kills and demonstrating an ADR of 93.
• FalleN from FURIA became the MVP of the match, getting 44 frags and an impressive ADR of 99.

What's next.

• FURIA will continue their performance in the upper bracket, where they will compete against Wildcard.
• Imperial fe got a chance to redeem themselves in the lower bracket, where their opponent will be BIG. This will be a crucial game for their stay in the tournament.

About the IEM Katowice 2025 tournament

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 is a part of the Intel Grand Slam and has S-Tier status. The tournament takes place offline at the legendary Spodek Arena, bringing together 24 teams from all over the world. The prize pool is $1,000,000, where the winner will receive $400,000.

In the Play-In, 16 teams compete for 8 tickets to the main stage of the tournament, which will start on February 3. This is where the first intrigues of the season unfold.

The match between FURIA and Imperial fe became a landmark for the development of female esports. Despite the defeat, Imperial fe showed that they can compete at a high level. Their comeback at Mirage is proof that female esports is growing, and with the right support and experience, these teams will be able to reach new heights.

The following days promise even more intrigue as the teams continue to fight for a place in the main stage of the tournament.