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After both teams qualified for the semi-finals by winning their respective groups during the group stage, Spirt and NaVi took the stage in the OVO Arena in London in front of a packed crowd of Counter-Strike fans.
.@TEAM__SPIRIT ARE YOUR SPRING FINAL CHAMPIONS PRESENTED BY @REVOLUTAPP
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/ODv6RT81R4
— BLAST Premier
(@BLASTPremier) June 16, 2024
The series kicked off on Ancient, which was picked by Spirit, and it was the Russian squad that sprinted ahead to claim the first six rounds and take a 10-2 lead at halftime on their terrorist side.
However, NaVi found their feet after halftime and came roaring back to 9-11, but it would be an eco-round where Spirit claimed an unlikely victory to secure a map point before closing out the map in the following round.
On NaVi’s pick of Dust2, Spirit started strong again, as they won the opening five rounds before NaVi picked up their first.
Going into halftime, the map was evenly placed at 7-5 in the favour of Spirit, with Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov and Danil “donk” Kryshkovets leading the way.
Unfortunately for the Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen-led squad, they would make a comeback in the second half to level the scoreline at 9-apiece but would go on to lose the next four rounds and go down 0-2 in the series.
With their tournament lives on the line, Natus Vincere headed to Spirit’s second map pick of Mirage, and it was do-or-die for the world number six.
Whatever Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy said to his team in between maps two and three appeared to have resonated with the squad, as NaVi came out firing early and won the first nine rounds before taking a 10-2 halftime lead following a near-flawless counter-terrorist side.
It only took the Copenhagen Major champions five rounds to close out the map and take the series score to 2-1 heading into their map pick of Nuke.
Although NaVi opened with a 3-1 lead on their terrorist side, it would be donk and Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia that would pull Spirit back into the contest and secure a hard-fought 7-5 halftime advantage.
That momentum continued for Spirit, and they only needed seven rounds to close out the series with a 13-6 scoreline on the fourth and final map.
BLAST Premier Spring Final MVP
pic.twitter.com/ULqtwOIUuK
— Team Spirit (@Team__Spirit) June 16, 2024
Following an ultra-consistent tournament where he averaged a 1.33 rating, donk was awarded the HLTV Most Valuable Player at the Spring Final as he topped the charts in the following categories: Average Damage per Round (92.8), Kills Per Round (0.88) and Impact (1.45).
In both of Team Spirit’s tournament victories at IEM Katowice and the Spring Final, donk has claimed the MVP, and even though he is only 17 years old, donk continues to impress not only his fans but his peers with his outstanding performances.
]]>The Counter-Strike match showcased Vitality’s resilience after a shaky start, particularly on Inferno, where FaZe dominated early.
Despite a 13-4 defeat, Vitality bounced back emphatically on Dust2 and Mirage, showcasing superior form and strategy.
Dan “apEX” Madesclaire highlighted the team’s turnaround, acknowledging the initial struggle but commending their comeback spirit.
.@TeamVitality are heading to the Semi-Finals!
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/xM0ugHdazi
— BLAST Premier
He emphasized Vitality’s confidence on Dust2 and Mirage, where they outplayed FaZe decisively.
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut’s standout performance was pivotal, underlining his impact with a remarkable 1.55 rating.
The loss marked a disappointing end to FaZe’s tournament run, their third consecutive quarter-final exit.
Team captain Finn “karrigan” Andersen expressed disappointment, acknowledging the team’s failure to meet expectations despite their high standards.
In another quarter-final clash, Virtus.pro defeated Astralis 2-0 (13-8, 13-10), showcasing resilience and strategic prowess.
Virtus.pro, led by Dzhami “Jame” Ali, overcame early deficits on Inferno and Dust2 to secure a semi-final berth against Natus Vincere.
Astralis, despite initial leads, faltered against Virtus.pro’s tactical manoeuvres, ending their season with mixed results.
In-game leader Nicolai “device” Reedtz lamented missed opportunities and expressed a desire for stronger finishes.
.@virtuspro are on their way to the Semi-Finals in London!
— BLAST Premier
Saturday’s Spring Final matches
- Team Spirit ($1.72) vs Team Vitality ($2.00) @ 4pm BST
- Natus Vincere ($1.72) vs Virtus.pro ($2.00) @ 7pm BST
Following the second and final day of the group stage, G2 Esports and SAW were eliminated in seventh-eighth place after suffering defeats at the hands of Team Vitality and Astralis, respectively.
Although G2’s star AWPer, Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, arrived in London at the venue just minutes before their series started, the lack of reps and play time for the Counter-Strike squad showed as they fought hard but couldn’t secure pivotal rounds.
Vitality would take the series 2-1 (13-4, 9-13, 13-5) with G2 only able to secure Vitality’s map pick of Anubis, thanks to Nikola “NiKo” Kovac putting the team on his back and recording a map-high 1.51 rating.
Demonstrating their dominance, every player on Vitality recorded a positive kill/death differential and a rating above one, with Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut leading the way with a series-high 1.44 rating and +19 K/D.
.@kingmezii WILL play in front of the home crowd as @TeamVitality secure the series!
— BLAST Premier
Meanwhile, SAW was thrashed by a much-improved Astralis in two maps, as the Nicolai “device” Reedtz’ led squad claimed Dust2 13-6, thanks to a vintage performance from the in-game leader.
After a dominant first map, it was device again who would lead a second map stomp, as the Danish roster only needed 16 rounds to claim Mirage 13-3 and wrap up the series.
Topping the charts in terms of ratings for the second day, device finished with a massive 1.90 rating out of 2, +23 kill/death difference, and 109.9 ADR.
.@AstralisCS are heading to the OVO Wembley Arena
— BLAST Premier
Although the other four teams didn’t risk elimination, the results would set up the playoff bracket, with Natus Vincere getting the better of FaZe Clan 2-1 (13-5, 9-13, 13-10), and Team Spirit proved the superior team in their region as they bested fellow Russian squad Virtus.pro 2-0 (13-4, 13-11).
With the loss, FaZe will clash with Team Vitality in the opening match on Friday, where the winner will advance to the semi-finals to take on Team Spirit.
Later, Virtus.pro and Astralis will clash for the right to play against Natus Vincere in the other semi-final on Saturday.
Friday’s Spring Final matches
- FaZe Clan ($2.07) vs Team Vitality ($1.74) @ 4pm BST
- Astralis ($1.62) vs Virtus.pro ($2.27) @ 7pm BST
This victory marked a turnaround for the Counter-Strike powerhouse, following some lukewarm performances at previous events like ESL Pro League and IEM Dallas.
The match against SAW saw a fierce battle unfold, particularly on Ancient, where SAW initially seized control with a dominant lead.
Despite FaZe facing match point, they staged an impressive comeback, pushing the game into overtime and eventually clinching the win.
Nuke, though floated as a comfort map for both teams, wasn’t necessary as FaZe displayed their prowess on Inferno, securing the series convincingly.
First W of the Spring Final secured for @FaZeEsports
— BLAST Premier
Meanwhile, Natus Vincere made a strong statement with a swift 2-0 (13-11, 13-9) victory over Astralis, bouncing back from a disappointing IEM Dallas showing.
Their win over the Danish giants set them up for a showdown against FaZe, while Astralis geared up to face SAW in a bid to stay alive in the tournament.
No dramas for @natusvincere on the opening day of the Spring Groups
— BLAST Premier
Virtus.pro, after breaking a four-series losing streak, secured a hard-fought 2-1 (5-13, 13-11, 13-10) win over Vitality, propelling them to the upper bracket final of Group B.
Despite trailing on Inferno and Dust2, Virtus.pro staged a remarkable comeback, particularly on Anubis, where they showcased their resilience and determination.
What a reverse sweep from @virtuspro, securing their spot in the Wembley Arena!
— BLAST Premier
Team Spirit also started strong with a 2-1 (8-13, 13-7, 13-4) victory over G2 Esports, despite the latter fielding coach Wiktor ‘TaZ’ Wojtas instead of star player Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov due to visa issues.
Spirit’s triumph over G2, highlighted by their dominant performance on Anubis, sets up an intriguing clash against Virtus.pro in the upcoming matches.
.@Team__Spirit secure the final W of the opening day in London!
— BLAST Premier
Thursday’s Spring Final matches
- SAW ($4.15) vs Astralis ($1.22) @ 12pm BST
- FaZe Clan ($1.60) vs Natus Vincere ($2.32) @ 2:30pm BST
- Team Vitality ($1.60) vs G2 Esports ($2.28) @ 5pm BST
- Virtus.pro ($3.88) vs Team Spirit ($1.25) @ 7:30pm BST
Wiktor “?TaZ?” Wojtas, the team’s coach, will replace him.
This news is a significant blow to G2, who recently celebrated a victory at IEM Dallas with stand-in Jake “?Stewie2K?” Yip.
m0NESY, who was the MVP at the event, expressed his eagerness to share the experience with his teammate Rasmus “?HooXi?” Nielsen, but he will now have to wait until after the Counter-Strike player break.
The Russian superstar has been a key player for G2 throughout 2024, earning one MVP and three EVP awards, and averaging a 1.31 rating across 90 maps.
His absence is particularly impactful, given his dominant performance and influence within the team.
Due to wanting to recreate the success from Dallas (VISA issues) m0NESY will not be travelling to London for Blast and so we will be playing with a stand in pic.twitter.com/niP4jWrW5B
— G2 CS (@G2CSGO) June 10, 2024
Replacing m0NESY is TaZ, a Polish legend who last played professionally in March 2023 under the HONORIS tag before retiring.
Despite his extensive experience, his return to top-tier competition after a significant hiatus will be challenging.
G2, placed in Group B, will face Team Spirit in their opening match on Wednesday.
The team will have to rely heavily on Nemanja “huNter-” Kova? and Nikola “NiKo” Kova?, both capable secondary snipers, to compensate for the loss of m0NESY’s firepower.
However, replicating his 1.31 rating will be a daunting task.
Fans had speculated a return for Stewie2K, but the team opted for TaZ, who brings veteran savvy and a calming influence.
Despite this, G2’s path to success has become significantly more challenging, as they will miss the strategic and in-game leadership m0NESY provides.
]]>
FAZE CLAN vs SAW CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
|
|---|---|
| Best Odds: | FaZe $1.20 at GG Bet | SAW $4.40 at GG Bet |
| When: | June 12, 2024 | 12:00 BST |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/BLASTPremier) |
FaZe Clan have terrorised the Counter-Strike esports scene since October 2023, but they’ve recently lost some of their potency. After a streak of placing top three in nine of 10 consecutive tournaments, FaZe finished ESL Pro League Season 19 and Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024 in fifth-eighth and fifth-sixth place, respectively.
In both events, FaZe were eliminated by the eventual finalists, so things aren’t that bad. And considering they are still 14-6 from their last 20 series, there’s no reason for panic.
SAW haven’t been attending many top-rated events since late last year, and even in the tournaments SAW have participated in, they’ve rarely made it further than the first stage. The Portuguese CS squad are also 2-5 from their last seven series, which include defeats against Sangal Esports, RUSH B, SINNERS Esports and Zero Tenacity.
FaZe Clan might not be as dangerous as they were a few months back, but they should crush SAW without any issues.
FaZe Clan -1.5 maps
NATUS VINCERE vs ASTRALIS CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
|
|---|---|
| Best Odds: | NaVi $2.11 at GG Bet | Astralis $1.72 at GG Bet |
| When: | June 12, 2024 | 14:30 BST |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/BLASTPremier) |
Natus Vincere haven’t shown much since their victory at PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, with two early exits from ESL Pro League Season 19 and Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024.
NaVi’s form seems to be deteriorating, and their recent performances against Complexity, FaZe Clan, Team Spirit, and HEROIC make it very hard to believe they have a realistic chance to win in London.
Astralis found momentum after missing out on the Copenhagen Major, with three semifinal appearances at IEM Chengdu 2024, ESL Pro League Season 19, and CCT Season 1 Global Finals. But they did not look nearly as good at the recent YaLLa Compass 2024.
Astralis are priced as favourites with the best esports betting sites, which makes sense after what they’ve shown in recent tournaments. But the Danes overperformed in April and May, and they’re not that much better than Natus Vincere.
Natus Vincere to win
TEAM VITALITY vs VIRTUS.PRO CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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|---|---|
| Best Odds: | Vitality $1.43 at GG Bet | VP $2.80 at GG Bet |
| When: | June 12, 2024 | 17:00 BST |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/BLASTPremier) |
Team Vitality have emerged as one of the more consistent Counter-Strike teams in Europe. Since their semifinal run at the Major, Vitality have added two silver medals from ESL Pro League Season 19 and IEM Dallas 2024, proving they belong among the elite squads.
Virtus.pro have shown some improvement since April with promising runs at IEM Chengdu 2024, ESL Pro League Season 19, and BetBoom Dacha Belgrade. But in Dallas, they crumbled and headed home early.
Virtus.pro have had their moments over the last couple of months, but it’s tough to believe they’ll stand a chance against Team Vitality, who rarely struggle against lesser opponents.
Team Vitality -1.5 maps
TEAM SPIRIT vs G2 ESPORTS CS2 BETTING & MATCH DETAILS |
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|---|---|
| Best Odds: | Spirit $1.16 at GG Bet | G2 $4.50 at GG Bet |
| When: | June 12, 2024 | 19:30 BST |
| Watch Live: | Twitch (https://www.twitch.tv/BLASTPremier) |
G2 Esports accomplished the impossible and won Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024 despite playing with a stand-in. They are now in a similar position for BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024, as they’re without Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov.
Team Spirit have also found some success since March. They reached the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 playoffs, finished second at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024, and made it all the way to the semifinals in Dallas.
Form-wise, Team Spirit and G2 Esports look fairly equal, and even though G2 will travel to London without their star AWPer, it’s absurd to see a team with so much firepower priced as $4.50 underdogs. Even without m0NESY, G2 Esports should be priced closer to $3.00.
G2 Esports to win
]]>
The BLAST Premier Spring Final will be the final S-Tier Counter-Strike tournament before the month-long player break, with the event set to take place from June 12 through June 16.
Meanwhile, two of the major League of Legends regional leagues will kick off this week, with the LCK and LCS starting their summer splits on June 12 and June 15, respectively.
-
CS2: BLAST Premier Spring Final
Eight of the best CS2 teams will congregate in London, England, for the BLAST Premier Spring Final, with seven of the eight rosters ranked inside the top 10 in the ESL world rankings.
With a massive US$425,000 prize pool on the line and a spot at the BLAST Premier World Final up for grabs for the winner, it is expected that the gameplay will be top-tier throughout the four days.
Esports betting sites have FaZe Clan and Team Spirit marked as $4.00 equal favourites in the outright betting market, followed by Team Vitality ($4.50), Astralis ($7.00) and Natus Vincere ($7.50).
Check out our extensive BLAST Premier Spring Final betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.
-
League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK)
The Korean League of Legends summer split will kick off on June 12 and run through September 8.
Fresh off their Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) victory, Gen.G will enter the LCK Summer split as clear $2.00 favourites with bookmakers.
Check out our extensive LCK betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.
-
League of Legends Championship Series (LCS)
On Sunday, June 16, a new era of the LCS will kick off in Los Angeles at the Riot Games Arena.
The North American League of Legends summer split will play fewer series than they did in the spring, and those series will be best-of-three matches.
Esports betting sites have Cloud9 marked as $3.50 favourites in the outright betting market, closely followed by Team Liquid ($4.00) and FlyQuest ($4.50).
Check out our extensive LCS betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.
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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
— 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.
]]>The final week of DreamLeague Season 22 will take place this week, as the remaining eight teams will fight for four playoff stage spots.
Meanwhile, the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown will begin on Wednesday, with 16 teams competing online for the final two spots at the BLAST Premier Spring Final.
-
Dota 2: DreamLeague Season 22
Group stage two started last week and will continue through Wednesday, with the top eight teams from group stage one clashing in a round-robin format for the four playoff spots.
BetBoom Team and Team Falcons remain undefeated through three series, and they appear destined to book their place in the playoff stage, while Shopify Rebellion and Gaimin Gladiators sit in third and fourth behind the leading duo.
Check out our extensive Dota 2 DreamLeague betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.
-
BLAST Premier Spring Showdown
The top Counter-Strike event taking place this week will be the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown, which will run from March 6 through March 10.
With two spots at the Spring Final up for grabs, each of the 16 teams will be competing at the highest level as they attempt to qualify for the $425,000 event in London.
Esports betting sites have marked Team Spirit as $1.50 favourites to qualify for the Spring Final ahead of Clound9 ($2.10) and Team Falcons ($3.00).
Check out our extensive BLAST Premier Spring Showdown betting guide to get the latest odds and tournament information.
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During the Spring Groups, Astralis encountered a bumpy road.
Despite convincing wins over Falcons and Team Vitality, they stumbled in the group final rematch against world’s best Counter-Strike team, Vitality.
Individual and team-wide issues plagued the Danish squad, with lackluster performances from key players like Nicolai “device” Reedtz and Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard.
BIG, however, defied expectations, growing stronger with each series.
Overcoming a heavy loss to Virtus.pro, they navigated through a challenging series against Heroic and showcased a solid performance against Cloud9.
The German squad, fuelled by emotion and determination, sought redemption after their struggles in the PGL Major Copenhagen qualifiers.
Astralis initially dominating on Vertigo, but BIG’s young duo, Karim ‘Krimbo’ Moussa and Elias ‘s1n’ Stein, displayed exceptional skill, leading their team to victory in overtime.
Overpass showcased Astralis’ dominance in the first half, and device’s impactful plays secured the map.
The decider was a tense back-and-forth affair, with BIG initially taking the lead, but Astralis mounted a comeback, ultimately securing the series win in overtime (12-16, 13-9, 16-14).
.@ASTRALISCS ARE HEADING TO LONDON!
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/CfudZe1bGl
— BLAST Premier
Later on, G2 secured their spot at the BLAST Premier Spring Final with a convincing 2-0 (13-10, 13-7) victory over Liquid.
Despite Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov not performing at his usual level, the Kova? cousins, Nemanja ‘huNter-‘ Kova? and Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kova?, led G2 with a combined 67 kills.
On Overpass, Liquid had a sluggish start, prompting a timeout from coach Wilton “zews” Prado.
Although they staged a comeback on the CT side, G2 ultimately secured the map with key plays from huNter- and NiKo.
On Anubis, G2’s dominant T-side performance left Liquid with no answer as they secured a swift victory without dropping a single round.
For Liquid, the tournament began with a slow start, narrowly defeating Spirit and struggling against FaZe and G2.
Their only resounding victory came against GamerLegion.
With a month before their next event, the Americas RMR, Liquid has time to address their mistakes and fine-tune their performance.
After booking their spot in the BLAST Premier Spring Final, Astralis and G2 will join Team Vitality, Natus Vincere, Virtus.pro and FaZe Clan.
Meanwhile, for Team Liquid and BIG, they will have to try and qualify for the Spring Final through the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown.
LONDON CALLING FOR @G2CSGO
— BLAST Premier
]]>