HEROIC defeated Virtus.pro 2-0 in the decisive lower bracket match to secure a spot in Stage 2 of IEM Cologne 2025. On Overpass and Mirage, the European squad looked much more confident, closing the maps 13:8 and 13:10 respectively.
Tournament Journey
Despite a painful 1-2 loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas, HEROIC managed to regroup and show resilience. Victories over MIBR and Virtus.pro earned them the final slot in the group stage.
Virtus.pro, on the other hand, started the event strong with a convincing win over TYLOO, the recent champions of FISSURE Playground 1. However, back-to-back defeats to GamerLegion and HEROIC marked the end of their Cologne campaign — the Russian squad exits the tournament.
Player of the Match
The standout performer of the match was 24-year-old Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich. His aggressive yet composed playstyle was a key factor in HEROIC’s success: 42 kills, 91.1 average damage per round, and a 1.45 rating. The experienced rifler once again proved he can step up in high-stakes LAN matches — and is now emerging as a driving force in this new-look HEROIC lineup.
Chances in Stage 2
The second stage of IEM Cologne will be a serious test for HEROIC. They’ll face elite opponents such as Vitality, Spirit, and MOUZ — all of whom are stable, well-rounded teams with deep rosters. Adding to the challenge, HEROIC recently lost two key figures: head coach sAw and AWPer SunPayus. Without a consistent sniper and with only temporary coaching support, the team’s strategic depth might take a hit.
Nevertheless, tN1R’s stellar form, combined with the experience of yxngstxr and LNZ, could help balance out some of the weaknesses. If HEROIC manage to quickly adapt to their new structure, they definitely have a shot at making the playoffs — though it won’t be an easy path in such a stacked field.
