NAVI Defeat NIP in Group B Lower Bracket at IEM Cologne 2025

NAVI continue their journey through the lower bracket at IEM Cologne 2025. In the lower bracket semifinals of Group B, they defeated NIP with a score of 2:1 and advance to the lower bracket final, where they will face FaZe for a chance to reach the playoffs.

The first map, Nuke, chosen by NIP, went to the Scandinavians. In the first half, the teams were neck and neck (6:6), but after switching sides, NIP managed to edge out NAVI and won 13:9. On the second map, Inferno, the momentum completely shifted to NAVI. By the end of the first half, they were leading 10:2, and after switching sides, they confidently closed the map with a score of 13:3. On the decisive map, Train, it was a close battle—NAVI led 8:4 in the first half, but after switching to the attack, they lost the initiative. NIP won 7 rounds in the second half, but NAVI didn't allow a comeback and finished the map with a score of 13:11.

The best player of the match was Valerii " b1t " Vakhovskyi, with a stat line of 51 kills and 39 deaths, as well as 84 ADR. 

NAVI will now play against FaZe for a chance to enter the playoffs, while NIP exits the tournament in 9th-12th place, earning $16,000 and $7,000 for the organization. The lower bracket final match will take place today at 18:30 CEST.