IEM Atlanta 2026’s Group B delivered two of the day’s headline stories. Legacy locked in playoffs with a 2-0 win over Astralis (13-8 Dust2, 13-6 Nuke); Liquid reverse-swept M80 1-2 in a North American derby to survive elimination.
Legacy’s playoff statement
Bruno ‘latto’ Rebelatto finished the Astralis series as the highest-rated player on the server at 1.65. Eduardo ‘dumau’ Wolkmer added a 1.33 and turned Dust2 around with an ace in a 2v5 — the round that defined the series. arT, the team’s IGL, contributed a 1.29 rating across both maps. Legacy now face NAVI in the Group B upper-bracket final with a direct semi-final spot on the line. Astralis drop into elimination.
The Liquid comeback
M80 took Dust2 13-4 behind a brutal Swisher performance and looked set to send Liquid out. Then malbsMd’s 1v3 clutch early in the second half of Inferno turned the series. Liquid won Inferno, then ran Ancient 13-5 to close it. NAF finished with 46 kills and a 1.46 rating; malbsMd added 44 kills at 1.27. The match also carried extra spice — M80’s Lake had said before the series that ‘a mid game would be enough’ for the upset. It wasn’t. M80 exit Atlanta 13-16 for $4,000.
Where it goes next
Legacy face NAVI for a direct semi-final spot. Liquid drop to the lower-bracket semi-final against GamerLegion. Both Brazilian and North American storylines now drive the bracket.
