B8 Eliminate Passion UA at IEM Rio 2026 as Senzu Absence Continues to Impact Roster

B8 secured a decisive 2-0 victory over Passion UA in the Group B lower bracket at IEM Rio 2026, eliminating their opponents from the tournament and keeping their own playoff hopes alive.

The Ukrainian squad claimed wins on Overpass (13-9) and Mirage (13-3), delivering a convincing performance that exposed ongoing issues within the Passion UA lineup.

Overpass Comeback Sets the Tone

The series opened on Overpass, a surprising map pick from Passion UA. Despite building an 8-4 lead on the T side, they failed to convert after the switch.

B8 mounted a strong comeback on the CT side, allowing just one round and closing the map 13-9. This turnaround proved to be the turning point of the match.

Mirage Domination Seals the Series

On Mirage, B8 left no room for recovery. They controlled the game from start to finish, cruising to a 13-3 victory and securing the clean sweep.

The dominant map highlighted the gap in coordination and firepower between the two teams.

s1zzi Leads B8 With Standout Performance

B8’s success was driven by exceptional individual performances:

Daniil “s1zzi” Vinnyk — 36-17, 1.58 rating

Dmytro “esenthial” Tsvir — 33-21, 1.32 rating

For Passion UA, Justin “FaNg” Coakley was the only consistent performer, finishing with a 1.24 rating, but lacked support from the rest of the squad.

Senzu Absence Remains a Key Issue

A major factor behind Passion UA’s struggles at IEM Rio 2026 was the absence of Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold.

The Mongolian rifler was unable to attend due to ESL roster regulations, forcing the team to use FaNg as a stand-in. The issue stems from regional requirements tied to their invite, which prevented Passion UA from fielding their intended lineup.

Roster Changes and Internal Challenges

Passion UA entered 2026 with ambitious roster moves, signing Senzu and Santino “try” Rigal as part of a rebuild.

Coach Tiaan “T.c” Coertzen previously acknowledged the transition period, stating the team needed:

“Fresh blood” and “fresh ideas”

He also noted that Senzu’s communication was still developing but emphasized his potential as:

“An amazing player and a really, really good talent”

Despite these expectations, the team has yet to find stability.

Controversy Around Senzu Transfer

The Senzu signing also drew attention due to transfer discussions involving multiple organizations.

Passion UA CEO Artemijs Rjabovs claimed the club agreed to a higher transfer fee than a competing offer, while NAVI representative Amiran “aMi” Rehviashvili publicly denied making any offer:

“That’s a lie, we didn’t offer anything.”

B8’s Momentum Continues With s1zzi Addition

B8’s recent roster move has proven effective, with s1zzi—on loan from Spirit Academy—delivering impactful performances.

His showing against Passion UA reinforces the decision and positions B8 as a dangerous lower-bracket contender.

What’s Next at IEM Rio 2026

With this win, B8 advance in the lower bracket and are set to face Aurora in their next match.

Meanwhile, Passion UA exit the tournament without a single map win, following earlier losses including a 0-2 defeat to FURIA.