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The team, initially entering the event with Jacky “Stewie2K” Yip as a stand-in for their regular in-game leader, Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen, exceeded all expectations to claim the title.
This victory marks a significant achievement for Stewie2K, who had been away from the Counter-Strike scene for over two years.
YOUR 100TH #IEM CHAMPIONS HAVE BEEN CROWNED.
G-STEW HAVE DONE IT
@G2CSGO ARE YOUR #IEM DALLAS 2024 CHAMPIONS
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) June 2, 2024
G2’s path to the IEM Dallas trophy was anything but straightforward.
They faced and defeated some of the top contenders, including FaZe Clan and Team Vitality, showcasing remarkable resilience and skill.
Under the leadership of Nikola “NiKo” Kova?, the team also overcame the dark horse of the event, 9z Team, in the playoffs.
The grand final against Vitality was a gripping three-map series that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
The action kicked off on G2’s pick, Inferno.
Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov set the tone with a 4K in the pistol round, leading G2 to a 7-5 advantage by the end of the first half.
Despite a strong start from Vitality in the second half, including a 1v1 clutch by m0NESY against Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, the map went into overtime.
G2 eventually triumphed 19-16, thanks to brilliant plays from NiKo, m0NESY, and Nemanja “huNter-” Kova?.
The second map, Anubis, saw a similar back-and-forth struggle.
G2 initially gained the upper hand, but Vitality’s William “mezii” Merriman delivered a highlight ace, shifting the momentum.
Vitality secured a 16-13 victory, forcing a decider map.
Nuke, the final map, started with G2 taking an early lead, but Vitality’s defense soon turned the tide.
However, a crucial 1v1 by m0NESY against ZywOo tied the score at halftime.
In the second half, G2 maintained their composure and closed out the map 13-8, securing the championship.
m0NESY was named the tournament MVP, boasting an impressive 1.61 rating in the final.
The young prodigy @G2m0NESY has officially claimed his first #ESLProTour DHL MVP trophy!
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) June 3, 2024
His stellar performance was complemented by the return of Stewie2K, whose presence revitalized the team.
“I don’t care about who I play against. We just won IEM Dallas, it’s crazy,” m0NESY said, emphasizing the collective effort.
Stewie2K’s return to competitive Counter-Strike was met with widespread acclaim.
“I��m back,�� he declared after the win.
��It��s probably the best feeling ever. I feel like I��ve been through hell for this, I��m very grateful and very thankful, honestly.��
His impact, both in and out of the game, was pivotal to G2’s success.
G2 Esports’ victory at IEM Dallas 2024 is a milestone for the team and a testament to their adaptability and skill.
As they prepare for the BLAST Premier Spring Final in London, the excitement continues to build.
With HooXi set to return as the in-game leader, G2 aims to carry forward their winning momentum.
For Stewie2K, this triumph is a reminder of his capabilities and an open invitation for future opportunities in the CS2 scene.
His journey, marked by perseverance and a remarkable comeback, has left an indelible mark on the tournament and the wider esports community.
G2’s victory at IEM Dallas 2024, highlighted by thrilling matches and standout performances, will be remembered as one of the most exciting chapters in Counter-Strike history.
]]>Despite a valiant effort from Damjan “?kyxsan?” Stoilkovski’s squad on Nuke, they were ultimately outclassed as Vitality pulled away decisively after half-time.
On Heroic��s map pick, they struggled to find their footing, managing only three frags in the first four rounds as Vitality, spearheaded by an inspired Dan “?apEX?” Madesclaire, took early control in the Counter-Strike series.
Despite a brief resurgence towards the end of the first half, thanks to Rasmus “?sjuush?” Beck’s impressive performance, Vitality maintained their lead.
After the side switch, Vitality extended their advantage with a dominant pistol round, and although Heroic attempted a comeback, apEX��s consistent form ensured Vitality’s victory.
Heroic��s situation worsened on Dust2.
After an initially promising second round, won by a trio of frags from sjuush, HEROIC managed only one more round in the half as Vitality��s offense proved unstoppable.
Vitality��s dominance continued in the second half, quickly wrapping up the game with a fast B retake and two additional rounds.
This win sets up an eagerly anticipated semi-final clash against Spirit, where Mathieu “?ZywOo?” Herbaut and Danil “?donk?” Kryshkovets will face off for the first time in an official match.
“We’ve never faced them, only in practice,” ZywOo commented.
“We’re going to play our game. Nothing more.”
An absolute blowout on the second map sees @TeamVitality best @heroicgg 2-0 to move on to the SEMIFINALS at #IEM Dallas!!
13-8 Nuke
13-2 Dust II#IEM100 pic.twitter.com/KAiVYnWUKv— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) May 31, 2024
G2 Esports also advanced to the IEM Dallas semi-finals with a decisive 2-0 (13-8, 13-2) win over FaZe Clan, maintaining their impressive run despite fielding Jacky “?Stewie2K?” Yip as a stand-in.
FaZe, typically formidable in major tournaments, faltered on the Terrorist sides of Dust2 and Nuke.
On Dust2, FaZe initially held a 7-5 lead after a chaotic CT side, but their T side performance collapsed.
Nemanja “?nexa?” Isakovi? and Ilya “?m0NESY?” Osipov capitalized on FaZe��s mistakes, leading G2 to an 8-1 run on the CT side to claim the first map.
Nikola “?NiKo?” Kova?��s triple kill in defence and m0NESY��s dominance with the AWP were crucial to G2��s success.
The trend continued on Nuke, where m0NESY delivered a pivotal clutch in round three.
FaZe struggled against NiKo in Yard and repeatedly failed to plant the bomb.
m0NESY��s flashy quad-kill towards the end of the half sealed FaZe��s fate, as they finished with just two rounds on the offensive half.
Reflecting on the defeat, Filip “?NEO?” Kubski said, “They played a really good game and we didn’t show up… This one was a disappointment, and we’ll aim for better results next trip.”
.@G2CSGO close out the series against @FaZeEsports dominantly 2-0 and advance to the #IEM Dallas Semi-Finals!
13-8 Dust II
13-2 Nuke#IEM100 pic.twitter.com/AO3k4ykVlP— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) May 31, 2024
With Vitality and G2 both through to the semi-finals, the stage is set for intense matchups.
Vitality��s clash with Spirit promises to be a must-watch, especially with the first official face-off between ZywOo and donk.
Meanwhile, G2��s continued strong performance, even with a stand-in, raises anticipation for their next match as they strive to continue their winning streak.
IEM Dallas 2024 semi-finals
- Team Spirit ($1.57) vs Team Vitality ($2.39) @ 1pm CDT
- 9z Team ($3.14) vs G2 Esports ($1.35) @ 4:15pm CDT
]]>
The 30-year-old Kazakhstani skipper will be replaced by analyst Pavel “PASHANOJ” Legostaev at the team’s next event, the BLAST Premier Spring Final.
— Virtus.pro (@virtuspro) May 30, 2024
Dastan had managed Virtus.pro since 2019, when the organization acquired the AVANGAR roster that won BLAST Pro Series Moscow.
He stood behind the team through all their victories, including Flashpoint 2, CS_summit 7, IEM Rio Major 2022 (under Outsiders), and ESL Challenger Atlanta 2023.
The shake-up in Virtus.pro’s ranks comes after a rough first half of 2024, despite the recent inclusion of star player Denis “electroNic” Sharipov.
The Russian squad has not made it past the quarter-finals at any event this year and crashed out of IEM Katowice in the play-in stage and in the Copenhagen Major’s group stage.
Virtus.pro’s recent struggles in events such as ESL Pro League Season 19, BetBoom Dacha Belgrade, and now IEM Dallas have prompted the organization to take action.
The team��s analyst, Pavel “PASHANOJ” Legostaev, will step up as the coach at the upcoming BLAST Premier Spring Finals, starting on June 12 in London.
Fans eagerly anticipate how the team will perform under their new temporary coach at the OVO Arena Wembley.
]]>
Dominating on Ancient with a 13-4 win and following up with a 13-8 triumph on Nuke, Spirit demonstrated their meticulous preparation and tactical brilliance.
Having only competed at BetBoom Dacha in Belgrade since the PGL Major Copenhagen, where they placed second, Spirit used the event as a warm-up for their true goal: another Intel Extreme Masters title.
It's looking like Katowice all over again…@Team__Spirit are the THIRD team locked into the #IEM Dallas 2024 PLAYOFFS!
@chopperis @donk1337 @magixx772 @sh1rocsgo @zont1x977 pic.twitter.com/HfJlf2z3MC
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 28, 2024
Their preparation, including a two-week holiday followed by a bootcamp and ten days of practice from home, clearly paid off.
Spirit’s dominance was evident from the start, as they crushed FlyQuest 13-1 in their opener before dispatching NaV in under two hours.
Danil “?donk?” Kryshkovets noted their crucial clutches on Ancient and Nuke, crediting luck for some pivotal rounds but underscoring their tactical prowess.
Leonid “?chopper?” Vishnyakov and Sergey “?hally?” Shavaev��s strategic calls were instrumental, particularly in adapting late on Nuke.
While donk and Dmitry “?sh1ro?” Sokolov had their moments, it was Boris “?magixx?” Vorobiev and Myroslav “?zont1x?” Plakhotia who shone, proving that Spirit��s depth extends beyond their star players.
For NaVi, the defeat was a setback, dropping them to the lower bracket where they will face Heroic.
Despite their Counter-Strike 2 Major win in Copenhagen, questions about their roster remain unresolved.
Justinas “?jL?” Lekavicius, the MVP of the Major, struggled against Spirit, while Mihai “?iM?” Ivan’s inconsistent performances continue to raise doubts about his future.
NaVi’s current state reflects a team with strong gameplans but lacking the firepower to consistently vie for trophies.
Their regression from Major champions to struggling contenders adds pressure on Andrey “?B1ad3?” Gorodenskiy��s squad to regain their top form.
Later on, FaZe Clan secured their playoff spot following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Virtus.pro in the Group B upper bracket semi-finals.
In true FaZe fashion, they staged a remarkable comeback, overcoming the brink of defeat on Inferno to win in overtime, followed by a tight 13-11 victory on Ancient.
Inferno saw FaZe nearly squander an 11-4 lead, but David “?frozen?” ?er��ansky��s late heroics secured the win.
Despite a momentum-breaking tech pause due to Steam maintenance, FaZe’s resilience shone through.
Ancient was a back-and-forth affair, with Virtus.pro initially gaining an 8-4 lead on the T side.
However, Finn “karrigan” Andersen��s brilliant quad-kill in round 15 and astute rotational calls late in the game clinched the win for FaZe, despite Denis “?electroNic?” Sharipov��s efforts to counter.
THE 4TH TEAM IN THE #IEM DALLAS 2024 PLAYOFFS
@FaZeClan
@karriganCSGO @FaZe_rainCS @FROZENNcs @ropz @broky @neo_fkubski #IEM100 pic.twitter.com/0jtcWqiEKH
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 28, 2024
With their victories, FaZe and Spirit are set to clash in the seeding match for the semi-finals, promising a thrilling encounter following their intense quarter-final at PGL Major Copenhagen.
Meanwhile, Virtus.pro face BIG in the lower bracket, needing two consecutive wins to secure a playoff spot.
Wednesday’s IEM Dallas fixtures
- Natus Vincere ($1.36) vs Heroic ($3.00) @ 12pm CDT
- Virtus.pro ($1.36) vs BIG ($3.00) @ 12pm CDT
- 9z ($5.00) vs Team Vitality ($1.14) @ 3pm CDT
- FaZe Clan ($2.37) vs Team Spirit ($1.53) @ 3pm CDT
- G2 Esports ($1.65) vs Team Liquid ($2.21) @ 6pm CDT
- Winner of NaVi/Heroic vs Winner of Virtus.pro/BIG @ 6pm CDT
]]>
The final matches of the VALORANT Champions Tour: Masters Shanghai Swiss Stage will take place on Monday, May 27, before the playoffs kick off on May 30.
Meanwhile, the Intel Extreme Masters: Dallas will also run this week, with the group stage starting on Monday.
-
VALORANT Champions Tour: Masters Shanghai
The second VALORANT Masters tournament of the 2024 season will run from May 23 through June 9, with the 12 best teams taking their place in the event in Shanghai, China.
With the Swiss Stage finishing on Monday, the playoffs will begin on Thursday as the four playoff seeded teams compete against the top four from the Swiss Stage.
100 Thieves, EDward Gaming, Fnatic and Paper Rex will get to choose their opponents for their first match of the playoffs after Riot changed the format to add more excitement to VCT Masters: Shanghai.
Check out our extensive VCT Masters Shanghai betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.
-
Intel Extreme Masters: Dallas 2024
16 of the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 teams will congregate in Dallas, USA, from May 27 to June 2, with eight of the squads ranked inside the worlds top 10.
The US$250,000 tournament will feature a group stage that will run from Monday to Wednesday before the playoffs begin on Friday.
Esports betting sites have FaZe Clan and Team Spirit marked as equal favourites in outright betting market at $3.75, closely followed by Team Vitality ($4.50), Natus Vincere ($6.00) and MOUZ ($6.00).
Check out our extensive IEM Dallas betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.
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G2 ESPORTS vs TEAM FALCONS CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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|---|---|
| Best Odds: | G2 $1.53 at GG Bet | Falcons $2.46 at GG Bet |
| When: | May 27, 2024 | 12:30 CDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS) |
G2 Esports rank among the elite few Counter-Strike esports teams, but they’ve yet to win a significant event this season. G2 reached the semifinals at PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 and Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2024 and recently placed top eight at ESL Pro League Season 19.
Although a fairly disappointing result for their standards, G2 Esports still posted solid results, which is why they’re expected to do well in Dallas. Yet we might want to tame our expectations.
In-game leader Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen won’t travel to Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center with his team and will be replaced by Jacky “Stewie2K” Yip. That’s a significant blow to G2 Esports and their chances to make it far, even though their deadly firepower remains intact.
Team Falcons haven’t accomplished anything nearly as impressive as G2 Esports since the turn of the year, but they played a competitive three-map series against Nikola “NiKo” Kova? and company in Malta. Now facing a weaker version of G2, Team Falcons have a realistic chance to cause an upset — especially in a best-of-one setting.
Team Falcons to win
COMPLEXITY vs TEAM LIQUID CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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|---|---|
| Best Odds: | COL $1.80 at GG Bet | Liquid $1.99 at GG Bet |
| When: | May 27, 2024 | 13:30 CDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS) |
The second match of Group A at IEM Dallas 2024 is a regional derby between Complexity and Team Liquid. The North American teams last met during the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 American RMR in March when Complexity won 2-1, and according to esports betting odds, we should be in for another close game.
Team Liquid have shown significant improvement since March and secured a spot in the knockout stage of ESL Pro League Season 19 earlier this month. Complexity reached even deeper and nearly secured a ticket for the grand final, with a 1-2 loss to the eventual champions, MOUZ, in the semis.
Both teams are on an upwards trajectory, and it’s hard to set them apart. Complexity have shown more and deserve to be priced as favourites with esports betting sites, but this being a clash between two regional rivals, we can expect another close affair.
Over 21.5 rounds
NATUS VINCERE vs BIG CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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|---|---|
| Best Odds: | NaVi $1.36 at GG Bet | BIG $3.08 at GG Bet |
| When: | May 27, 2024 | 14:30 CDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS) |
After winning PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, Natus Vincere battled to a 9th-12th finish at ESL Pro League Season 19. This isn’t too worrying, as their only loss of the tournament came against FaZe Clan, but there are arguments to be made against NaVi’s price for this match.
Ranked as the no.25 Counter-Strike esports team in the world, BIG are hardly serious contenders to win Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024. They didn’t accomplish much at ESL Pro League Season 19, and they didn’t impress at BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2024 in March either.
Over the last three months, we have not seen BIG defeat a single elite CS team, and even when faced with weaker opponents, they’ve occasionally underdelivered. So even though Natus Vincere are notorious for slow starts to tournaments, they should do enough to beat BIG with a few rounds to spare.
Natus Vincere -3.5 rounds
VIRTUS.PRO vs HEROIC CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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|---|---|
| Best Odds: | VP $1.56 at GG Bet | Heroic $2.40 at GG Bet |
| When: | May 27, 2024 | 15:30 CDT |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/ESLCS) |
Virtus.pro enter IEM Dallas 2024 following a solid performance at ESL Pro League Season 19, where they placed top eight. Even though VP are still far from where they want to be, they’ve started showing better performances since the signing of Denis “electroNic” Sharipov.
After their trip to Malta, Virtus.pro crashed out of BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 in fifth-sixth place, suggesting they’ll need a bit more time to gain serious traction.
HEROIC, like Virtus.pro, have a lot to prove. They exited ESL Pro League Season 19 in 21st-28th place and then ran third-fourth at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 with just two victories against MiBR.
Virtus.pro placed much higher than HEROIC at ESL Pro League Season 19, but that’s the only reason why anyone would consider them as favourites for this match. The two sides are evenly matched, and since it’s a best-of-one game, HEROIC to win at outsider odds is a much more appealing bet.
Heroic to win
]]>
Mohammad “BOROS” Malhas, previously a cornerstone of the team, has been benched due to underperformance.
This decision, driven by the team’s desire to revamp their line-up for future success, aims to address concerns over performance consistency and role allocation within the squad.
To fill the void left by BOROS, Falcons made a high-profile acquisition, securing the services of Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev on a one-month loan from Natus Vincere.
S1mple, widely regarded as one of the greatest Counter-Strike players of all time, brings immense skill and experience to the team.
His return to competitive play after a hiatus is eagerly anticipated by fans and teammates alike.
S1mple’s arrival marks a significant shift in Falcons’ strategic approach, with the Ukrainian star expressing willingness to adapt his playstyle, potentially transitioning to a rifler role to accommodate the team’s needs.
HERE WE GOOO!!!
Please welcome @s1mpleO, who will be making his return to professional Counter-Strike as part of Falcons for one month on loan from team @natusvincere! pic.twitter.com/mglPzyQBxn
— Team Falcons (@TeamFalconsGG) February 19, 2024
This flexibility showcases his dedication to maximizing his impact within the game and underscores Falcons’ commitment to optimizing their roster composition.
In addition to the roster changes, Falcons announced the departure of assistant coach Rafael “Feldman” Rodriguez, signalling a broader restructuring effort within the organization.
This move underscores Falcons’ commitment to fostering a cohesive and competitive environment as they strive to overcome recent setbacks and achieve success in upcoming tournaments.
The temporary nature of s1mple’s loan allows Falcons the flexibility to evaluate their roster options ahead of key events such as the ESL Pro League and IEM Dallas.
While the team remains focused on short-term objectives, including the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown, their long-term vision emphasizes sustained excellence and contention for Major titles in late 2024 and beyond.
Overall, Falcons’ decisive actions reflect their proactive approach to roster management and their unwavering dedication to achieving success at the highest levels of competitive Counter-Strike.
Official Statement Regarding our Counter-Strike 2 Team: pic.twitter.com/iP5fnrbAhS
— Falcons Esports (@FalconsEsport) February 19, 2024
]]>
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), a prominent player in the esports and video game entertainment industry, revealed its ambitious 2024 program for the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) for Counter-Strike.
The announcement comes just as anticipation builds for the forthcoming launch of Counter-Strike 2, which has fans, players, and industry partners are excited for fresh changes, additions, and returning features.
The ESL Pro Tour aims to streamline the competitive Counter-Strike landscape, consolidating various ESL tournaments into a single, dedicated circuit. The tour is designed with multiple tiers of competition, including EPT Championship, EPT Masters, and EPT Challenger.
These varying levels offer a “clear and consistent opportunity” for players across the skill spectrum��from aspiring amateurs to established professionals��to compete and hone their abilities.
With these changes, ESL FACEIT Group is positioning itself and the ESL Pro Tour as the cornerstone of what promises to be an electrifying year for Counter-Strike esports.
Whether you’re a player striving to break into the professional ranks or a fan eager for gripping tournament action, the 2024 ESL Pro Tour is shaping up to be an essential part of the global esports calendar.
ESL Pro Tour Masters and Championships dates
The ESL Pro Tour has definitely got some events that are more lucrative, draw more fan engagement and feature better players. The Counter-Strike events on the ESL Pro Tour that you should not miss include:
IEM Katowice 2024: January 31st �C February 11th
IEM China 2024: April 8th �C April 14th
ESL Pro League Season 19: April 23rd �C May 12th
IEM Dallas 2024: May 27th �C June 2nd
IEM Cologne 2024: August 7th �C August 18th
ESL Pro League Season 20: September 3rd �C September 22nd
IEM Fall 2024: October 7th �C October 13th
ESL Challanger events dates
The ESL Challenger Events are the tier dwon from the Pro Tour, but many of the top players will be partaking in these tournaments during the year. ESL Challenger events are also a fertile breeding ground for the top players, with young guns generally coming through this pathway. Key dates for ESL Challenger events in 2024 include:
ESL Challenger #56: April 26th �C April 28th
ESL Challenger #57: June 14th �C June 16th
ESL Challenger Atlanta: October 4th �C October 6th
ESL Challenger #59: November 22nd �C November 24th
Locations for ESL Challenger #56, #57, and #59 are yet to be announced, but these should be finalised shortly.
There are also the online ESL Challenger Leagues, which run worldwide over several months. Key dates for 2024 online ESL Challenger events include:
ESL Challenger League Season 47: February �C June
ESL Challenger League Season 48: July �C November
IT IS DONE.@ENCE FINALLY GET THEIR TROPHY IN TEXAS
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) June 4, 2023
After claiming top spot in Group B, the world no.11 advanced straight into the semifinals, awaiting the winner of the titanic clash between G2 Esports and FaZe Clan.
FaZe got the win and set up a rematch of their Group A upper-bracket semifinal with ENCE from earlier on in the tournament.
MOUZ, meanwhile, had to qualify through the lower bracket of Group A and take on Astralis in the quarterfinals before setting up a semifinal matchup with Heroic.
With Heroic (2) and FaZe (3) both ranked among the top three teams in the world, ENCE and MOUZ went into their respective semifinals as clear underdogs with most esports betting sites.
However, MOUZ took the opening map against Heroic, before the favourites claimed the second to send the series to a third map, where it took all 30 rounds to find the winner.
Christopher ��dexter�� Nong and his team took the final map 16-14 to send Heroic packing and take MOUZ to their first CS:GO tier-one grand final of the year.
As for ENCE, their clash with FaZe Clan turned into the best series we saw at IEM Dallas, with both teams trading blows and map wins before going to overtime on the third and final map.
Both sides had chances to win the series in overtime, but it was Marco ��Snappi�� Pfeiffer and his team who claimed the series with a 31-28 map win on Ancient.
Those results set up a tantalising decider between two teams that few observers would have expected to contend for the title.
Unfortunately for neutral Counter-Strike fans, ENCE dominated both maps in the final to claim an easy 2-0 victory, with their rising star Alvaro ��SunPayus�� Garcia taking out the Most Valuable Player award.
The AWPer finished the grand final with server highs in kill/death difference (+16), ADR (97.7) and rating (1.45) as ENCE clinched their first tier-one CS:GO title since 2019.
IEM Dallas 2023 final standings
- 1st: ENCE
- 2nd: MOUZ
- 3rd�C4th: FaZe Clan, Heroic
- 5th-6th: G2 Esports, Astralis
- 7th�C8th: Cloud9, OG
- 9th-12th: Complexity, Team Liquid, 9z, FURIA
- 13th�C16th: Grayhound, Evil Genuises, Fnatic, Nouns
The teams faced off against each other in Group B of the Counter-Strike event, with Astralis beating the Russian lineup 2-0. The series was held on Ancient and Mirage, where Cloud9 only got single-digit round totals on both maps.
Ancient kicked off with Astralis in the lead; the team started with a 1vs3 clutch and held on to their advantage for the entire offensive half. By map half, Astralis had secured 12-round wins, which proved too much for Cloud9 to reel in. The Danish lineup won Ancient with a 16-8 scoreboard.
While Mirage had the same outcome, Cloud9 started the map in the lead, racking up six rounds before the second half. They blew their chances of a decider on the third map after the map half, and Astralis once again won 16-8 and closed the series 2-0.
Nicolai “?device?” Reedtz produced the highest rating on the map at 1.57 with a 94.1 ADR. Benjamin “blameF” Bremer was not far behind with 1.56 and a 91.0 ADR.
Cloud9 players did not record a single positive rating, with Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov producing the highest rating of 0.99.
Astralis is set to face off against ENCE in the group final to secure a direct passage to the IEM Dallas semi-final stage. The loser of the match will begin their run in the quarterfinals.
With the loss, Cloud9 has dropped to the lower bracket and will play against Complexity on Wednesday.
Tuesday also saw 9Z’s elimination from the tournament following their 2-0 loss to OG. The South American team leaves the CS:GO tournament in 9th�C12th place, while OG lives to fight another day.
The series started on Ancient, which OG won 19-17 via the efforts of substitute player Iulian “regali” Harj?u. The teams moved to Mirage, which OG also won, but this time due to the individual performance of Shahar “flameZ” Shushan.
FlameZ recorded 31 kills and a 1.78 rating on Mirage, which helped his team win the map 16-12 and retain their place in the tournament. The player produced the highest rating for both maps at 1.33, with Regali in second place at 1.32.
OG’s next match will be against MOUZ for a place in the IEM Dallas quarterfinals.
]]>