The end of the Group Stage is within sight - There are just a few days left of the Group Stage at this year's IEM Katowice, and only four teams of the original 16 will be able to qualify for the Playoffs.
IEM Katowice 2023: Group A lower bracket semifinals schedule and betting odds
Two more teams in Group A are facing elimination today after both Cloud9 and BIG were sent home following yesterday's lower bracket quarterfinals. The winners of today's matches meanwhile will advance to the lower bracket final, which will take place on February 7, and will decide which lower bracket team will qualify for the Playoffs.
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The Group A lower bracket matches will both take place at 18:30 GMT on February 6 - and one of which will see Team Spirit competing against Team Liquid.
Team Spirit (2.11) vs Team Liquid (1.73)
Team Spirit found themselves in the lower bracket following their 2-0 loss to FaZe Clan on February 4, marking Spirit's second defeat at this year's IEM Katowice - having also lost to Ninjas in Pyjamas during the Play-In Stage. That's not to say that Team Spirit don't have a few bragging rights from this week - They started the tournament with an excellent 16-6 win over Grayhound Gaming and secured their invitation to the Group Stage through a 2-1 victory against Sprout. It's a bit of a mixed record, but that's no reason to overlook Team Spirit just yet.
Team Liquid however made their IEM Katowice 2023 debut on February 4, having automatically qualified for the Group Stage due to their position on the ESL World Ranking, where they're sitting at an incredible second place. Expectations are therefore running high for Liquid, who disappointed at last year's IEM Katowice when they ranked in 13th-16th place. Things started off promising this year, with a 2-0 win over IHC Esports - but that success was short-lived, as Liquid were sent down to the lower bracket through a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Natus Vincere (NAVI). That's put Liquid at risk of elimination, with them having to emerge victorious today t make it through to the next stage.
The odds are ever so slightly in Team Liquid's favour here, at 1.73 vs Team Spirit's 2.11 - but this one could easily go either way!
The second match taking place at 18:30 GMT meanwhile will see FaZe Clan going up against IHC Esports.
FaZe Clan (1.12) vs IHC Esports (6.51)
FaZe Clan started their run at this year's IEM Katowice on February 4, having automatically qualified for the Group Stage through their victory at IEM Cologne 2022 - just one of many such successes for the team last year. They're therefore one of the strongest teams competing for this year, which they proved in their debut match against Team Spirit, who they defeated with a score of 2-0. Despite that success, they soon find themselves in the lower bracket, after G2 pulled off a fantastic 2-0 victory over the team, putting FaZe at risk of elimination. However, given that FaZe Clan are this year's defending champions, it would be wise not to write them off just yet.
IHC meanwhile have been an incredible success story in Katowice this year, with the underdog team having impressed fans around the world with their incredible performance so far. IHC have repeatedly faced off arguably much stronger teams, and have defied the odds again and again to make it this far into the tournament. The highlights of their run so far have to be their February 3 win over FURIA Esports as well as their 2-0 victory over Cloud9 yesterday. IHC had been heavily favoured to lose both of those matches - pulling off some of the most exciting upset victories of the 2023 season. It is truly an incredible run for the Mongolian team, who are making a fantastic impression at their first-ever appearance at IEM Katowice.
The odds are heavily in FaZe Clan's favour here, at 1.12 against IHC's 6.51 - but IHC have overcome greater odds than that already, so we could have another unbelievable upset victory on our hands.
The IEM Katowice Playoffs are just a few days away - and only six teams will survive the Group Stage. Who will you be supporting? Whoever you choose to back, why not stand a chance of doubling your winnings with a Kato Bet Boost?
