Rare Atom eliminate ATOX
Early multi-frag rounds from L1haNg propelled Rare Atom off to a 7-2 start on the T-side of Anubis against ATOX in their consolidation final at the IEM Rio 2024 Asia Closed Qualifier. After securing a 9-3 half, Rare Atom kept it clean and closed out Anubis 13-4, not letting ATOX get their economy in line for their T-side campaign.
The second map took us to Ancient where Rare Atom again got off to a good start but this time ATOX kept damages to a minimum, stringing up 5 rounds in a row to steal the lead and secure a 7-5 advantage.
A dobu-kabal show pushed ATOX to pistol and anti-eco conversions but a masterful 3k entry sequence from Summer quickly changed the tone for Rare Atom. Putting up 6 consecutive rounds on the T-side, Rare Atom closed the gap and levelled the score at 10-10, setting up a photo-finish. ATOX eventually recovered and closed out Ancient 13-11, levelling the series at 1-1.
An 8-1 start on the T-side of Inferno put ATOX at a big advantage but a few individual plays from kaze garnered much momentum in favor of Rare Atom towards the end of the first half. Rare Atom rode the momentum to put up a 6-rounds streak on their T-side and eventually caught up and levelled the score at 11-11. Rare Atom closed out Inferno 13-11, knocking out ATOX.