ENCE Defeat CYBERSHOKE 2–1 in IEM Atlanta 2026 Closed Qualifier Opener

ENCE opened their run in the IEM Atlanta 2026 Closed Qualifier with a convincing 2–1 victory over CYBERSHOKE Esports, securing their first step toward qualification for the IEM Atlanta main event.

The online qualifier runs February 10–12 and offers two spots at IEM Atlanta 2026, making every series critical for teams aiming to reach the ESL flagship tournament.

Final score:

Nuke — ENCE 13:7 CYBERSHOKE

Dust2 — ENCE 4:13 CYBERSHOKE

Anubis — ENCE 13:6 CYBERSHOKE

The series was a momentum rollercoaster: a controlled start by ENCE, a brutal equalizer from CYBERSHOKE, and a decisive finish on the third map.

Map-by-map breakdown: momentum swings define the series

Nuke — ENCE set the pace (13:7)

ENCE opened the match with a composed and structured performance on Nuke. Strong CT control and consistent mid-round conversions allowed them to maintain a steady lead throughout the map.

CYBERSHOKE struggled to find openings and never built enough momentum to threaten a comeback, giving ENCE the early series advantage.

Dust2 — CYBERSHOKE strike back hard (13:4)

Dust2 turned the series upside down.

CYBERSHOKE dominated ENCE from the start, shutting down executes and winning aim duels across the map. The one-sided scoreline forced a decider and briefly shifted the pressure onto ENCE.

This map showed CYBERSHOKE’s potential firepower and proved they could challenge the favorite.

Anubis — ENCE close it out (13:6)

ENCE quickly reset on Anubis and delivered a controlled closing performance.

Better trading, improved economy management, and confident site holds allowed ENCE to regain full control and finish the series without late drama.

Top performers and key stats from the match

ENCE’s victory was driven by standout individual performances:

kRaSnaL

45 kills across the series

86.7 ADR (average damage per round)

One of the most impactful riflers in the server

podi

Best overall rating: 1.24 Rating 3.0

13 AWP kills

Strong opening duel impact

These performances gave ENCE the firepower edge needed to survive the upset attempt.

What happened next: ENCE fall to BetBoom

The win pushed ENCE forward in the upper bracket, where they faced BetBoom Team in the quarter-final.

That series ended in a 2–0 defeat for ENCE:

Nuke — BetBoom 13:8

Ancient — BetBoom 13:4

This result sent ENCE down the bracket and increased the pressure in their qualification run.

Other key results from the IEM Atlanta Closed Qualifier

Fnatic suffer shocking 0–13 Mirage loss

One of the biggest talking points of the qualifier came when Fnatic lost 0–13 on Mirage (their own map pick) against K27.

Player qw1nk1 delivered a standout performance on the map with:

26 kills

3.44 rating

The series continued to a decider, making it one of the most surprising storylines of the event.

Fnatic defeat OG 2–0

Fnatic later bounced back in another qualifier match:

Inferno — 13:6

Dust2 — 13:9

The win kept them competitive in the race for IEM Atlanta qualification.

IEM Atlanta 2026 qualifier format explained

The Closed Qualifier is a short, high-pressure online event where invited teams and open qualifier winners compete for the final LAN slots.

Key facts:

Dates: February 10–12

Format: Online bracket

Prize: 2 spots at IEM Atlanta 2026

With limited slots available, every match carries elimination-level importance.

Why ENCE’s win matters

The victory over CYBERSHOKE was crucial for ENCE’s campaign:

Avoided an early lower-bracket run

Demonstrated resilience after a heavy map loss

Showed strong individual form from key players

Even after the loss to BetBoom, the opening win remains an important step in ENCE’s path toward qualification.