The lower bracket phase of Group A at IEM Chengdu 2025 opened with two thrilling series filled with comebacks, emotions, individual brilliance, and a fight for survival. The Swedish-Turkish lineup Heroic edged past Natus Vincere 2–1, while paiN Gaming left no room for doubt, dismantling the Chinese side TYLOO 2–0 with authority.
Heroic 2–1 Natus Vincere — Cold discipline triumphs over chaos
After a painful loss to The MongolZ in their opening match, Heroic faced intense pressure — one more mistake would mean elimination. Their opponent, a revamped Natus Vincere, was also recovering from a defeat to Astralis and eager to restore its reputation.
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Map by Map
- Nuke — NaVi strike first.
The Ukrainian squad opened the series with confident defensive play. b1t and makazze dominated the entry points, denying Heroic any room to execute their strategies. The Swedes looked disoriented, unable to counter NaVi’s rapid rotations — 13–8 for Natus Vincere.
- Ancient — Heroic fight back.
Led by Alkaren and yxnsgstxr, Heroic’s Swedish-Turkish core came alive. Clean entries, sharp mid-round calls, and flawless coordination broke through NaVi’s setups. Unable to sustain the pressure, NaVi fell 8–13 as Heroic forced a decider.
- Inferno — Teamplay over individual stars.
The final map showcased Heroic’s structured superiority. LNZ and nilo shut down every offensive attempt, while xflloud and yxnsgstxr delivered crucial clutches in the late game. Despite efforts from w0nderful and iM to turn the tide, Heroic closed it out 13–8, completing the comeback to stay alive in Chengdu.
Player Statistics for the Match
Player of the Match — Simon “yxnsgstxr” Boije
- K–D: 53–38
- ADR: 89.
- KAST: 76.2%
- Rating 3.0: 1.46
The Swedish rifler was Heroic’s driving force — initiative, composure, and precision. His entries and intelligent reads anchored the team’s comeback and secured their first win of the event.
Valve Regional Standings (VRS)
- Heroic: +49 pt → 1584 → 1633 pt (#14)
- Natus Vincere: –22 pt → 1807 → 1785 pt (#8)
Heroic’s victory pushes them into the global Top 15, while NaVi slide to the edge of the Top 10 after another early elimination.
paiN 2–0 TYLOO — Brazilian control over Chinese chaos
The second series of the day was a masterclass from paiN Gaming. The Brazilian squad, led by saadzin, showcased maturity, structure, and composure — qualities that TYLOO, still searching for form, couldn’t match.
Map by Map
- Nuke — dominance from the first round.
paiN instantly dictated the pace as snow and nqz tore through the Chinese defense with precise entries. TYLOO looked overwhelmed from start to finish — 13–6 for the Brazilians.
- Inferno — a confident finish.
TYLOO tried to fight back, but biguzera and dav1deuS maintained total control over rotations and site holds. A clutch 1v2 by dgt in Round 24 broke TYLOO’s economy, sealing a 13–11 map and a 2–0 series for paiN.
Player Statistics for the Match
Player of the Match — João “snow” Vinicius
- K–D: 44–28
- ADR: 104.4
- KAST: 79.1%
- Rating 3.0: 1.62
The young Brazilian delivered a phenomenal showing — calm under pressure, deadly in duels, and consistently impactful in clutch moments. His mechanical skill and composure were the backbone of paiN’s success.
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Valve Regional Standings (VRS)
- paiN: +35 pt → 1561 → 1596 pt (#17)
- TYLOO: –9 pt → 1440 → 1431 pt (#22)
paiN strengthen their foothold in the global Top 20, while TYLOO remain winless on the international LAN stage.
The lower bracket day at IEM Chengdu 2025 tested every team’s resilience and mental toughness. Heroic proved their ability to adapt under pressure, turning setbacks into success, while paiN reaffirmed their identity as a disciplined, structured force capable of standing toe-to-toe with Europe’s elite.
Next, Heroic will face the winner of paiN vs Aurora, while NaVi and TYLOO exit the tournament early. The road to the playoffs in Chengdu is heating up — and the fight for survival has only just begun.
