Inner Circle were eliminated from Stake Pulse Beat III after losing 0:2 to Sangal in the Group A decider, dealing a major blow to their chances of qualifying for PGL Singapore Major 2026.
The Ukrainian team had been narrowly inside the projected Major invitation cutoff before the defeat. According to the latest HLTV simulation, Inner Circle are now projected outside the qualification range with only a 28.4% chance of reaching Singapore.
INNER CIRCLE LOSE REMATCH AGAINST SANGAL
The result came only hours after Inner Circle had beaten the same opponent 2:0 in their opening match.
They won Anubis 13:9 and Dust2 13:6 in the first series before losing 0:2 to Ninjas in Pyjamas in the winners match, sending them into a rematch against Sangal for a place in the playoffs.
This time Sangal reversed the result.
- Dust2 (pick Inner Circle) — 16:12 in favor of Sangal
Inner Circle led 7:5 at halftime before the teams finished regulation tied at 12:12. Sangal then won all four overtime rounds to steal the map selected by Inner Circle. - Cache (pick Sangal) — 13:11 in favor of Sangal
Inner Circle again started ahead with a 7:5 first half, but Sangal responded with an 8:4 second half to close the series without requiring Mirage.
Yeray “Joey” Serrano Pérez finished as the highest-rated player in the match with 44–35 K–D, 87.3 ADR and a 1.35 Rating 3.0.
MAJOR QUALIFICATION CHANCES DROP TO 28.4%
The elimination is particularly costly because Inner Circle entered Stake Pulse Beat III as one of the teams fighting around the Major invitation cutoff.
Before the loss to Sangal, the team were projected narrowly inside the qualifying range. The early exit reduced the number of VRS points available to them while several direct competitors remain active in upcoming events.
HLTV now gives Inner Circle a 28.4% projected chance of receiving an invitation to PGL Singapore Major 2026.
The percentage does not mean the team are mathematically eliminated. Their final position will still depend on results from other teams in the qualification race and the rankings at the invitation cutoff.
INNER CIRCLE NOW DEPEND ON RESULTS ELSEWHERE
Stake Pulse Beat III was an important opportunity for Inner Circle to strengthen their position before the Major cutoff, but the group-stage elimination means they can no longer add points through a deeper run at the event.
The team will now have to rely both on their remaining opportunities and unfavorable results for direct competitors around the qualification line.
What began with a 2:0 victory over Sangal ended with elimination against the same opponent, leaving Inner Circle in a significantly more difficult position in the final race for Singapore.
