BetBoom Beat Liquid to Reach IEM Beijing Playoffs
BetBoom have booked a place in the IEM Beijing 2026 playoffs after beating Team Liquid 2-1 in the Group B lower bracket final on November 4, 2026.
The result sent Liquid home and left the last Group A playoff spot to be decided between Falcons and Natus Vincere at the Counter-Strike 2 tournament, which ESL lists as a 16-team event with a $1,250,000 prize pool.
BetBoom Survive a Liquid Comeback
BetBoom began the day by sweeping Aurora 2-0 in a Group B elimination match, winning 13-5 on Mirage and 13-5 on Cache. Aurora, who had been considered favourites for the series, finished in ninth to twelfth place.
Liquid also kept their run alive on the same day, beating TYLOO 2-0 with scores of 13-11 on Mirage and 13-4 on Anubis. TYLOO, the Chinese side playing at a home event, also finished ninth to twelfth. That set up a rematch for the lower bracket final later in the afternoon, with a quarter-final place at stake.
BetBoom took the opening map, Anubis, 13-5. Liquid came back on Nuke, winning 13-11 after trailing 9-3 at the half, which forced a decider on Mirage.
A round-23 ace from BetBoom's zorte broke an 11-11 tie and put his team on match point, and BetBoom closed the map 13-11 to win the series 2-1.
Falcons and NAVI Meet for the Last Group A Place
Falcons and Natus Vincere each cleared their lower bracket semi-finals 2-0 earlier on Wednesday. Falcons beat HEROIC 13-8 on Ancient and 13-6 on Dust2, while NAVI beat B8 13-8 on Ancient and 13-11 on Dust2.
The two teams now meet in the Group A lower bracket final, a best-of-three with the playoff place going to the winner and elimination for the loser.
The sides have met already in Beijing. NAVI beat Falcons 2-0 in the group opener on November 2, taking Ancient 13-5 and Mirage 13-11. Falcons then recovered with a 2-1 win over FaZe and the sweep of HEROIC to reach this decider.
How the Playoffs Work
Each group sends its top three teams through. Group winners go straight to the semi-finals, while runners-up and third-placed teams enter the quarter-finals.
The playoffs are a six-team single-elimination bracket held from November 6 to 8, with best-of-three quarter-finals, semi-finals and third-place decider, and a best-of-five grand final.
The prize money is split between players and clubs. The winner takes $125,000 in prize money plus a $235,000 club reward, while teams finishing seventh to eighth earn $7,000 plus $47,500 and those finishing ninth to twelfth earn $5,000 plus $20,000.
What to Watch
Liquid leave in seventh to eighth place, and BetBoom now carry their form into the quarter-finals as a low seed. Be sure to check out their latest victory odds on betting sites.
Once the Falcons and NAVI result is in, the full six-team bracket will be set for the weekend in Beijing.
