• Date: May 23rd, 2023
• Opponent: Iron Branch (Belarus), World Ranking #73
• Tournament: CCT South Europe Series 4 (Online)
• Round of 16 (best of three)‍
• Scheduled: 20:00 CEST
  

When is it?

• The Astralis main team is scheduled to participate in the upcoming CCT South Europe Series 4 online tournament on May 23rd.
• The team will directly enter the playoff stage of the tournament, engaging in a face-off against Iron Branch in Round 16.
  

What's at stake?

• The CCT South Europe Series 4 features a prize pool of $50,000 and has been ongoing from April 22nd until May 26th.
• The upcoming match will determine who secures a spot in the quarter-final. 
• The opponent in the quarter-final will be either Aurora or Anonymo.
  

Who's the opponent?

• The upcoming best-of-three duel with Iron Branch (#73) will mark only the second encounter between the two teams. 
• The initial clash occurred during the IEM Dallas 2023 Europe Open Qualifier, where Iron Branch was defeated in a best-of-one contest (16-10).
  

Key Players to Watch

• The Ukrainian Ilya "Ganginho" Chernichenko, aged 21, stands out as one of the most prominent players in the Iron Branch team, boasting the highest rating (1.17) and kills per round (0,78).
• Meanwhile, Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz, a dominant figure within the Danish quintet, will undoubtedly make his presence felt when the battle against Iron Branch commences at 20:00 CEST on May 23rd. With the team's highest rating (1.22), dev1ce is consistently a player to watch closely.
• Additionally, 25-year-old Benjamin "blameF" Bremer has made significant contributions over the past three months, showcasing his prowess with the highest average damage per round (83.5).

As the CCT South Europe Series 4 playoffs begin, don't forget to tune in to the live stream on the Astralis website. Our skilled caster will offer professional commentary and analysis during the matches.

Watch the livestream at Astralis Watch.