Astralis Secure a Spot in the IEM Katowice 2025 Group Stage with a Win Over paiN Gaming

On January 31, 2025, the decisive Play-in stage matches took place at Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025. These matches determined which teams would claim the final slots and advance to the tournament’s group stage, making them feel like mini-finals. One matchup that particularly caught our attention was paiN Gaming vs. Astralis, so here’s a brief recap of the game and its key moments.

paiN Gaming vs. Astralis

Astralis had the first map pick and chose Inferno, a battleground where they boast a win rate of over 60%. Despite not being in their peak form, they still entered the match as favorites. The game started off evenly, with both teams exchanging rounds, but Astralis quickly gained momentum through superior play. paiN Gaming struggled to counter Astralis’ swift attacks, and the first half ended 9-3 in favor of the Danish squad. Although paiN showed resilience in the second half by securing four rounds, it wasn’t enough to shift the balance. In the end, Astralis took Inferno 13-7.

For the second map, paiN Gaming opted for Dust 2, hoping to turn the tide. However, Astralis continued to showcase their dominance, winning the first three rounds. paiN Gaming had their moments as well, with ‘kauez’ pulling off an impressive ACE in round 10. The first half concluded in a balanced 6-6 scoreline, but Astralis adjusted their strategies in the second half, refining their grenade usage and executing smarter attacks. With this, Astralis sealed the victory with a 13-9 score on Dust 2.

With a 2-0 series win, Astralis secured their place in the group stage of IEM Katowice 2025. Unfortunately, paiN Gaming’s tournament run ended here, as they were eliminated, finishing 17th-20th place.