IEM Chengdu 2025: NAVI and FaZe knocked out, Astralis and Falcon Clinch Playoff Spots
The initial quartet of teams advancing to the playoffs at IEM Chengdu 2025 includes MOUZ, Astralis, FURIA, and Team Falcons. These squads have locked in their positions by reaching the upper bracket finals in Groups A and B, ensuring their progression to the tournament’s next stage.
Astralis Moves Forward
Astralis kicked off their tournament run with a win against NAVI and aimed to build on that success in their matchup with The MongolZ. The opening map, Nuke, featured intense exchanges but ultimately favored the Danes, thanks to standout clutches from Emil ‘Magisk’ Reif on both sides of the game.
The second map, Inferno, proved equally competitive, but Astralis offensive push in the latter half sealed a 13-8 victory, completing a clean 2-0 series. Now playoff-bound, Astralis will clash with Team Falcons in the upper bracket final to decide who starts the playoffs in the semifinals.
NAVI’s Early Exit
After a tight 2-1 loss to Astralis in their Group A opener, NAVI fought for survival in the lower bracket against HEROIC. They started strong on Nuke, dominating the attack in the second half for a 13-8 win and edging closer to progression.
HEROIC struck back on Ancient, mirroring the score with a 13-8 triumph driven by their superior offense post halftime. The decider on Inferno echoed the closeness of the previous maps, but HEROIC’s attacking prowess shone again, claiming seven rounds in the second half for another 13-8 win and a 2-1 series upset, knocking NAVI out of contention.
Team Falcons Overcomes Team Spirit
Day two’s highlight pitted Team Falcons against Team Spirit, as two top-tier global squads vied for an early playoff berth. Falcons dominated Dust II with a solid defense, cruising to a 13-6 win to take the series lead.
Team Spirit mounted a comeback attempt on Ancient, building a commanding 9-3 halftime lead fueled by Dmitriy ‘sh1ro’ Sokolov’s sharpshooting, which stifled Falcons advances. However, Falcons rallied to tie it up and push into overtime, where Ilya ‘m0NESY’ Osipov’s expert AWP work propelled them to a 16-13 victory, securing their playoff spot. The Saudi-based team now prepares to face Astralis in Group A’s upper bracket final.
FaZe Clan Crashes Out
Defending champions FaZe Clan were unceremoniously eliminated by Virtus.pro in the Group B lower bracket semifinal on November 4. The Russian squad, bolstered by two fresh academy graduates, clinched a gritty 2-1 victory: Overpass 13-8 (VP), Mirage 13-5 (FaZe), and Inferno 13-7 (VP). FaZe’s early Mirage momentum evaporated as VP’s tactical prowess dominated, exposing Karrigan’s faltering CT sides.
This 0-2 group stage exit marks a low for the once-dominant FaZe, plagued by stale strategies and inconsistent firepower. Fans lament the roster’s slide from 2024 glory. VP advances, hungry for playoffs.
Looking Ahead
As day two wraps up, the third day offers the final opportunities for the surviving teams to qualify for the playoffs. Here’s the lineup for November 5th, 2025:
Group A:
- Team Spirit vs HEROIC
- The MongolZ vs paiN Gaming
Group B:
- Team Vitality vs Lynn Vision Gaming
- G2 Esports vs Virtus.pro
Victors from these contests will proceed to the lower bracket finals, where the ultimate winners claim the last playoff slots in each group.
Viewers can catch the ongoing Group Stage action on ESL’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Since: October 29, 2025
