MIBR replace Heroic in Dallas, facing Complexity

ESL announced earlier today that Heroic would no longer be attending IEM Dallas after one of their members started suffering "pre-travel COVID-19 issues" preventing them from making the trip. The invite gives the MIBR talent an opportunity to strike gold after falling short of the Legends stage in Antwerp.

Spirit were initially extended the invite to replace Heroic, but the team did not have the necessary travel visas and therefore could not accept the invite. As a result, one of Brazil's top teams will be making an appearance.

The sudden invite gives MIBR an opportunity to move away from the disappointing run at the Major as well as show off the new-look lineup with Breno "brnz4n⁠" Poletto replacing Adriano "WOOD7" Cerato and Marcelo "⁠chelo" Cespedes taking charge as in-game leader. Although the shifting changes happened just over a week ago, MIBR's acceptance of the invite suggests the team is prepared to bring their A-game to their debut in Dallas.

As it stands, Complexity is perhaps the best matchup for the Brazilians in their first LAN matches together. The Americans are the second lowest ranked team at the event behind Australia's Looking For Org and have yet to take a map over MIBR over the two BO3 games played this year. A third BO3 win over Complexity would create an even more one-sided affair between the two cores, and also put MIBR into the Group B upper bracket semifinal — an impressive feat after receiving an invite just 48 hours prior.

Complexity enters the event with its own things to prove, and will not lie down for the Brazilians in their quest to prove it. The Americans haven't hit their stride since joining the organization at the start of the year and recently flopped at the Major, departing with a 1-3 record in the Challengers stage with their sole win coming over Mongolia's IHC. Growing pains have come in plenty for the young talent, but they will look at the LAN on home turf as an opportunity to enact revenge on their Brazilian foes as well as get firing on all cylinders.

This abrupt change adds to the list of sudden occurrences affecting the event. NIP revealed earlier today that Erik "⁠ztr" Gustafsson would be replacing in-game leader Hampus "hampus⁠" Poser for the event due to an illness. Adding to the list is Astralis coach Martin "⁠trace⁠" Heldt, who will not be behind his players at Dallas due to visa issues.

The two teams are scheduled to compete at the end of day one at the anticipated start time of 03:30PM.