The Guard defeat Cloud9 3-0 to qualify for Stage 1 Masters

Losing with this minimal score difference meant that both teams matched up equally, and this matchup would only get more interesting as time progressed. Unfortunately, Cloud9’s chances of winning worsened as The Guard unlocked their ultimate form. Given that Haven was their map pick, it came as no surprise when Cloud9 managed to take the first couple of rounds under their belt. Following those rounds, the momentum changed hands and there wasn’t much that Cloud9 could do to contain The Guard’s, which seemed to have found their rhythm. Halftime approached and the scoreboard read 8-4, a predicament Cloud9 was eager to resolve going into the second half. However, consistent contributions from Ha "Sayaplayer" Jung-woo and Trent "trent" Cairns limited Cloud9s control to a single round, while they finished the map at a 13-5 score.

Unlike the first map, Haven proved to be a disappointment in terms of the intensity of the battle between the rosters despite Cloud9 choosing it as their map pick. With the Guard leading 2-0, Split was extremely important for Cloud9 to stay in the matchup and have a plausible chance at qualifying for Masters Iceland. This realization coupled with the desire for revenge fuelled Cloud9’s 8-4 run in the first half of the map, which included a seven-round streak from the 3rd to 9th round. Before Cloud9 fans had the opportunity to cherish the four-round lead courtesy of Nathan "leaf" Orf’s contributions, The Guard’s roster shot down their hopes by taking 9 rounds to finish the map in the second half including some mind-blowing plays from Jacob "valyn" Batio.