AVANGAR have secured their place in the CIS Minor playoffs after beating FORZE 2-1 (Mirage 9-16, Inferno 16-7, Train 16-12) in Group B's decider.

The series for the last playoffs spot at the CIS Minor began on Mirage, where AVANGAR, who chose the map, got off to a good start with a 5-2 lead despite losing the pistol round.

Things quickly started turning sour for the Kazakh side, however, as FORZE fought back, clinching seven out of the remaining eight rounds on the back of a strong double AWP setup, courtesy of Almaz "⁠almazer⁠" Asadullin and Bogdan "⁠xsepower⁠" Chernikov.

AVANGAR picked up the second pistol round to close the gap to just one round, but it was FORZE who came out on top of the gunrounds yet again to clinch a 14-8 lead. Dzhami "⁠Jame⁠" Ali then replied with a quad-kill with the AWP to give AVANGAR their ninth, but FORZE immediately responded with an A attack to secure map point and shortly after the map at 16-9.

Despite early struggles, AVANGAR make the playoffs at the CIS Minor

AVANGAR got back on their feet on Inferno, picking up an early 5-0 lead on the CT side keeping the pressure up with a couple of 1v1 clutches, as they grabbed a 10-round defense.

The second pistol round saw xsepower attempt a quick 1v5 clutch while retaking the B bombsite, which Timur "⁠buster⁠" Tulepov prevented in the final 1v1 duel, helping AVANGAR reach 14 rounds without too much resistance. FORZE came out on top of two close retake scenarios, but a 2v4 victory on B gave AVANGAR the 15th round as well as the 16th immediately afterwards, as FORZE were on low economy.

FORZE looked to begin the deciding map, Train, with a substantial half, as they were leading 6-0 as Terrorists to start things off. However, AVANGAR put their foot down and locked down each bombsite, going on a streak of eight rounds before the last went the other way.

Jame & co. continued riding on the wave in the second half, winning the pistol as well as the second round, in which they turned around a 2v5 situation up against pistols. After securing the first gunround, AVANGAR fended off another dangerous forcebuy on the back of buster's 1v1 for a 14-7 scoreline.

Like AVANGAR in the first half, FORZE began closing the gap with four in a row, but they couldn't complete the comeback, as Aidyn "⁠KrizzeN⁠" Turlybekov's two early openings inspired AVANGAR to reach match point and, two rounds later, the playoffs after a won eco round.

CIS Minor - FACEIT Major 2018Best of 3 FORZEMatchpage 1 2 11th July 2018 AVANGAR 16Mirage 9 7Inferno 16 12Train 16

FORZE	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Bogdan 'xsepower' Chernikovxsepower	57 - 47	+10	77.8	1.20
Artyom 'malik' Arhipovmalik	52 - 51	+1	81.3	1.08
Almaz 'almazer' Asadullinalmazer	50 - 55	-5	72.0	0.97
Andrey 'Jerry' MekhryakovJerry	46 - 55	-9	64.6	0.93
Dmitriy 'facecrack' Alekseyevfacecrack	39 - 53	-14	56.3	0.84

AVANGAR	K - D	+/-	ADR	Rating 2.0
Aidyn 'KrizzeN' TurlybekovKrizzeN	55 - 47	+8	83.6	1.20
Timur 'buster' Tulepovbuster	56 - 45	+11	74.6	1.15
Dzhami 'Jame' AliJame	49 - 40	+9	64.5	1.04
Dmitry 'dimasick' Matvienkodimasick	52 - 55	-3	79.0	1.03
Alexey 'Qikert' GolubevQikert	49 - 57	-8	69.1	0.91

Dzhami 'Jame' Ali Age: 19 Team: AVANGAR Rating 1.0: 1.05 Maps played: 312 KPR: 0.67 DPR: 0.59 FORZE #62 Dmitriy 'facecrack' AlekseyevAlmaz 'almazer' AsadullinBogdan 'xsepower' ChernikovAndrey 'Jerry' MekhryakovArtyom 'malik' Arhipov Aidyn 'KrizzeN' Turlybekov Age: 18 Team: AVANGAR Rating 1.0: 1.01 Maps played: 381 KPR: 0.68 DPR: 0.65 AVANGAR #27 Timur 'buster' TulepovAidyn 'KrizzeN' TurlybekovAlexey 'Qikert' GolubevDzhami 'Jame' AliDmitry 'dimasick' Matvienko Timur 'buster' Tulepov Age: 18 Team: AVANGAR Rating 1.0: 1.05 Maps played: 437 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.64 Almaz 'almazer' Asadullin Age: 19 Team: FORZE Rating 1.0: 1.00 Maps played: 171 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.71 Bogdan 'xsepower' Chernikov Age: 20 Team: FORZE Rating 1.0: 1.05 Maps played: 89 KPR: 0.70 DPR: 0.62