PA and LAG secure IEM Rio 2024 NA Closed Qualifier spot

While the two IEM Rio 2024 North American Open Qualifiers were originally supposed to award only one Closed Qualifier spot each, NRG threw a wrench into the works by withdrawing its spot, which it had clinched by winning OQ #1. This resulted in ESL reformatting OQ #2 to award two CQ spots.

Party Astronauts and LAG, who had lost to NRG during the first Open Qualifier, managed to secure the two spots and are now joining Liquid and Legacy in the Closed Qualifier, which is set to start on August 31st.

After a somewhat chaotic first day, the later stages of IEM Rio 2024 NA OQ #2 started on the same note, with all four quarterfinal matches being competitive. Partynauts defeated InControl 13-7, the biggest round difference of the QFs, while Priority and FLUFFY AIMERS beat Limitless and undefined, respectively, 13-8. LAG would struggle the most between the winners, as they managed a 13-10 win over the Mexicans of MarcaRegistrada.

Going into the deciding series, PA and LAG were the favorites thanks to their past performances during the first Open Qualifier, as both only lost to NRG. The Party Astronauts' crew, after comfortably winning the first map against FLUFFY AIMERS, almost slipped up on its own Nuke pick but ultimately secured the CQ spot with a 13-11 Nuke and a 2-0 series.

LAG's faith would be the same but only after an overtime thriller against Priority. Bogdan "ogwizard" Savula and co. started off the series with a too-close-for-comfort 16-13 win but followed it up with a 13-3 stomp to advance to the Closed Qualifier. In the third place decider to determine a replacement team in case of any more withdrawals, FLUFFY AIMERS beat Priority 13-1, 13-8.

Party Astronauts and LAG are now joining Liquid and Legacy in the IEM Rio 2024 North America Closed Qualifier after NRG's withdrawal to focus on the ESL Challenger Atlanta Closed Qualifier. The IEM Rio 2024 NA CQ is set to start on August 31st.