Eternal Fire defeat Team Falcons in the first match of the IEM Katowice 2025 Group Stage and continue their winning streak in the tournament

On February 1, 2025, the Group Stage of Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 kicked off. This stage features eight teams that qualified based on Valve Global Standings, alongside eight teams that advanced through the Play-In stage. One of the standout matches of the day was Team Falcons vs. Eternal Fire, which we’ve summarized for you.

Team Falcons vs. Eternal Fire

Eternal Fire had the first map pick and chose Inferno. The Turkish squad has been a tournament sensation so far, easily making it through the Play-In stage by defeating Team Liquid and HEROIC. The match started evenly, with both teams trading early rounds and waiting for their opponents to make mistakes. However, Eternal Fire proved to be the more creative team—their aggressive attacks consistently broke through Team Falcons' defenses, allowing them to plant the bomb in almost every round. Their superior firepower also made a difference, leading to an 8-4 lead at halftime. In the second half, EF maintained their momentum and closed out Inferno with a 13-7 victory.

For the second map, Team Falcons picked Train. This map recently returned to the official competitive pool, making every match on it unpredictable. The early game played out similarly to Inferno, with both teams exchanging rounds. However, EF slowly built up their advantage. Starting on the Counter-Terrorist side, they focused on unconventional positioning to catch Team Falcons off guard, as the latter is known for their fast site executions. Eternal Fire’s superior aim was also a key factor, with XANTARES achieving an impressive 1.81 rating. They dominated the first half with a 9-3 score and secured the map 13-5, closing out the series.

With a 2-0 victory, Eternal Fire advances to the Upper Bracket Semifinals, while Team Falcons drops to the Lower Bracket Quarterfinals, where they will fight for survival in the tournament.