Both teams overcame significant challenges to earn their places, defeating OG and Virtus.pro, respectively.
FaZe Clan, despite recent struggles and early exits in other tournaments, managed to regain form in the Showdown.
After a shaky start that saw them drop a map to paiN Gaming, FaZe bounced back with a convincing series win over the Brazilians and carried that momentum into a decisive victory against OG.
FaZe set the pace early in their match against OG, dominating with a 9-3 half on Dust2 and ultimately winning the map 13-8.
On Ancient, FaZe maintained their edge, securing another 13-8 win to advance to the Fall Final.
The resurgence of key players like Robin “ropz” Kool and Helvijs “broky” Saukants was crucial to FaZe’s success.
Both players, who had been struggling in recent events, delivered strong performances, helping their team secure a spot in one of the biggest Counter-Strike 2 events of 2024.
While questions remain about FaZe’s consistency, their qualification for the Fall Final is a significant step forward.
FALL FINAL SECURED: @FaZeEsports
They had to do it the hard way but FaZe secure a spot at the Fall Final, can @karriganCSGO finally win the title in front of the home crowd?
Tickets HERE
https://t.co/vGpI3hAleQ#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/2lljXTa0ai
— BLAST Premier
(@BLASTPremier) August 25, 2024
Team Falcons also faced a challenging path to the BLAST Premier Fall Final but they rose to the occasion.
After an opening win against M80, Falcons had to overcome two of the highest-ranked teams in the tournament, Complexity and Virtus.pro.
Led by Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer and bolstered by the experience of players like Emil “Magisk” Reif, Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, and the standout performer Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia, Falcons secured their place in the Fall Final.
Falcons�� match against Virtus.pro was particularly one-sided.
On their pick of Vertigo, Falcons dominated the first half, leading 10-2 before eventually closing out the map 13-10, thanks in part to a clutch 1v4 from SunPayus.
The second map, Mirage, saw Falcons once again take control with a 9-3 half, eventually winning 13-6 to complete their sweep.
This tournament marked a much-needed return to form for Falcons, who had struggled in recent months.
SunPayus, who had openly discussed his struggles throughout 2024, showed significant improvement, while Snappi found his fragging ability just in time for the showdown.
With three Danish players on the roster, Falcons will be eager to perform well on home soil in Copenhagen.
As both FaZe Clan and Team Falcons head to the Fall Final, they join a lineup of the world��s best teams, ready to compete for glory in one of the most anticipated events of the year.
FALL FINAL SECURED: @FalconsEsport
Our final team secured in Copenhagen and three hometown heroes that will put on a show in front of the home crowd!
Tickets HERE
— BLAST Premier
]]>
Both teams secured their spots in the Group B lower bracket final after decisive 2-0 victories in the Counter-Strike 2 event.
FaZe dominated Falcons and Liquid bested Complexity, setting up a high-stakes clash later in the day for a place in the playoffs.
Liquid’s choice to play Ancient, a map they had only recently added to their map pool, proved risky yet effective.
Despite Roland “?ultimate?” Tomkowiak having a quiet start, Liquid’s riflers, including Keith “?NAF?” Markovic and Russel “?Twistzz?” Van Dulken, stepped up to secure a close win on the first map.
Mareks “?YEKINDAR?” Ga?inskis made key plays on the counter-terrorist side, helping Liquid maintain their momentum.
The second map, Anubis, saw Liquid dominate with strong counter-terrorist tactics and a resurgent ultimate, who delivered an ace to regain his confidence.
Liquid won six straight rounds in the second half to quickly wrap up the series with a 13-5 win.
FaZe entered their match against Falcons as heavy favorites with esports betting sites, and they lived up to expectations.
Dust2 began with an 8-0 streak, with H?vard “?rain?” Nygaard dismantling the Falcons’ offense.
Although Falcons managed to force overtime, FaZe’s superior firepower and strategic adjustments secured a 16-13 win.
The second map, Ancient, saw a back-and-forth battle, but FaZe’s momentum from a crucial pistol round propelled them to victory, sealing their spot in the lower bracket final.
The rematch between FaZe and Liquid was nothing short of epic.
WHAT. A. GAME.
AN INSANE COMEBACK FROM @FaZeClan SENDS THEM TO THE #IEM COLOGNE PLAYOFFS OVER @TeamLiquidCS!!
13-9 Inferno
13-16 Nuke
16-13 Mirage pic.twitter.com/aghGQtSmPs— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 13, 2024
FaZe had narrowly defeated Liquid in their group opener, but this time, the stakes were even higher, with a spot in the playoffs on the line.
Liquid picked Inferno instead of Mirage, hoping for a better outcome, but FaZe’s David “?frozen?” ?er��ansky dominated the B-site, helping FaZe secure a 13-9 win.
Nuke was more competitive, with Liquid pushing the game into overtime before FaZe’s defence, led by frozen, halted several of their advances.
Liquid eventually broke through the strong defences, securing the map with a 16-13 scoreline to send the series to a deciding map.
The decider on Mirage seemed destined for a Liquid victory as they stormed to an 11-1 lead, leaving FaZe on the brink of elimination.
However, in one of the greatest comebacks in CS2 history, FaZe clawed their way back from a 3-12 deficit.
A flawless defence from ?rain? and Robin “?ropz?” Kool shut down Liquid’s attacks, forcing the match into overtime.
FaZe completed their miraculous comeback, winning nine consecutive rounds to secure a spot in the playoffs.
.@G2CSGO show no mercy again as they dominate @paiNGamingBR on their way to the #IEM Cologne 2024 Playoffs
13-6 Nuke
13-1 Mirage pic.twitter.com/uMqdJ09qLe— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 13, 2024
In Group A, G2 Esports made a statement by crushing paiN Gaming 2-0 (13-6, 13-1) in a one-sided series, securing their playoff spot.
Nikola “?NiKo?” Kova? and new addition Mario “?malbsMd?” Samayoa led the charge, with G2 delivering a string of dominant victories through the lower bracket.
Natus Vincere, after a sluggish start against SAW, found their form on Ancient and Inferno, securing a 2-1 (9-13, 13-2, 13-6) win and a direct path to the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, Team Vitality overcame MOUZ 2-0 (13-6, 16-13) in a tough upper bracket final, avoiding a quarter-final matchup against the in-form G2.
Friday’s IEM Cologne playoff fixtures
- SAW ($3.00) vs FaZe Clan ($1.35) @ 3:45pm CEST
- MOUZ ($2.35) vs G2 Esports ($1.55) @ 7pm CEST
]]>
Team Vitality and MOUZ locked in their playoff spots for the Counter-Strike 2 tournament with wins over FaZe Clan and Complexity in their respective upper bracket semi-finals in Group B.
Vitality and FaZe played out a hard-fought three-map series, with the former taking the series 2-1 (8-13, 16-12, 13-9), even though their star player, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, had little influence on the clash.
FaZe picked Inferno for the first map, and with strong performances from key players like Robin “ropz” Kool and H?vard “rain” Nygaard, they took an early lead in the series with a 13-8 victory.
Although Vitality was forced into overtime on their map pick of Dust2, Shahar “flameZ” Shushan stepped up and carried the world number four to a 16-12 win, forcing a decider on Anubis.
The squads couldn’t be separated at halftime, locked at 6-6, before heading into the final half of the match.
However, Vitality, led by flameZ again, would win seven of the final 10 rounds on their terrorist side to close out the map and series, 13-9.
It's a reverse sweep from @TeamVitality to best @FaZeClan and secure themselves a spot in the #IEM Cologne Playoffs
8-13 Inferno
16-12 Dust 2
13-9 Anubis pic.twitter.com/ZveNmSxktV— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 12, 2024
On the other side of the bracket, MOUZ took care of Complexity 2-0 (13-9, 13-11), with Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo, Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin, and ��d��m “torzsi” Torzs��s dominating for the world number three.
Torzsi, who led the way on Vertigo, recorded a server-high rating (1.39) and kills (19) to power MOUZ to a 13-9 win on Complexity’s map pick.
MOUZ picked Nuke, and even though it was much closer than the opening map, Brollan (1.54 rating) and Jimpphat (1.47 rating) led the way in a hard-fought 13-11 victory.
MOUZ will face Vitality in the Group B upper bracket final, with the winner locking in a semi-final spot and the loser having to settle for a quarter-final berth.
It's a not so simple 2-0 for @mousesports as they close out the series vs @ComplexityCS after a bit of back and forth.
13-9 Vertigo
13-11 Nuke pic.twitter.com/3pdL1WsgGc— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 12, 2024
Earlier in the day, FURIA and Virtus.pro were eliminated from the IEM Cologne after suffering their second defeat of the group stage.
FURIA’s second straight 0-2 loss, this time against Team Liquid, ended their disappointing campaign in Cologne, while VP was knocked out by Falcons in a back-and-forth three-map series.
Finally, The Mongolz and Astralis had their runs ended by paiN Gaming and G2 Esports, respectively, in the lower bracket of Group A.
G2 continued their IEM Cologne resurgence with a 2-1 (13-1, 13-10, 13-3) victory, where the world number four dominated their Danish opponents on two of the three maps.
The Mongolz suffered a similar fate to their upper bracket loss on Sunday, as they claimed the opening map before losing the next two, going down 1-2 (13-16, 13-10, 13-8) against paiN.
The final day of the group stage will take place on Wednesday, with the final two teams locking in their spots to compete in the LANXESS Arena.
Wednesday’s IEM Cologne fixtures
- Falcons ($2.75) vs FaZe Clan ($1.40) @ 1:30pm CEST
- Team Liquid ($1.44) vs Complexity ($2.62) @ 1:30pm CEST
- G2 Esports ($1.16) vs paiN Gaming ($4.50) @ 3:45pm CEST
- Natus Vincere ($1.20) vs SAW ($4.33) @ 3:45pm CEST
- MOUZ ($2.00) vs Team Vitality ($1.72) @ 6:45pm CEST
- Winner of FaZe Clan/Falcons vs Winner of Complexity/Team Liquid @ 6:45pm CEST
]]>
In a series of thrilling Counter-Strike clashes, FURIA, 9z Team, Falcons, The MongolZ, and paiN Gaming emerged victorious, advancing to the next phase of the tournament.
FURIA secured their place in the group stage after a hard-fought 2-1 (13-11, 8-13, 13-11) win over Heroic in the lower bracket.
The Brazilian squad, led by Felipe “?skullz?” Medeiros, delivered a standout performance.
Skullz shone on Mirage with a 1.41 rating, playing a crucial role in a final-round 2v5 clutch alongside Kaike “?KSCERATO?” Cerato.
Though FURIA��s decision to pick Anubis backfired, they recovered on Nuke, where skullz’ pivotal plays on the terrorist side kept them in the game.
A clutch 1v3 attempt by Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski was thwarted, and despite a brief scare at 12-10, FURIA closed out the match thanks to skullz’s triple kill in the final round.
.@FURIA outlast @heroicgg on the final map in order to advance at #IEM Cologne 2024
13-11 Mirage
8-13 Anubis
13-11 Nuke pic.twitter.com/MyjFDJHFbT— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 9, 2024
9z continued their impressive run by defeating regional rivals MIBR 2-0 (16-13, 13-2) to secure a group stage spot.
After a tight battle on Ancient, where 9z staged a comeback from a likely defeat, they dominated Nuke.
MIBR showed initial promise with a clever play in yard but were outplayed by 9z��s tactical prowess.
A near-heroic 1vs5 attempt by Raphael “?exit?” Lacerda was denied by Franco “?dgt?” Garcia, as 9z cruised to a 13-2 victory to close out the series.
A dominant performance from @9zTeam on their pick sees them beat @MIBR 2-0 in order to secure a seat in the next stage at #IEM Cologne
16-13 Ancient
13-2 Nuke pic.twitter.com/T8kdXZFX2S— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 9, 2024
Falcons overcame BIG 2-1 (13-7, 10-13, 13-10) in a three-map series to qualify for the group stage.
The win was a much-needed morale boost for Falcons, with Emil “?Magisk?” Reif praising ��lvaro “?SunPayus?” Garc��a��s standout performance.
BIG’s pick of Dust2 proved disastrous as they fell behind 2-10 in the first half.
Although they made a minor comeback, Falcons’ victory was never in doubt.
Mirage was more competitive, with BIG breaking their losing streak on the map thanks to a desert eagle 4k from Rigon “?rigoN?” Gashi.
However, Falcons closed out the series on Anubis, with SunPayus leading the charge on the counter-terrorist side.
.@SunPayuscs shines as @TeamFalconsGG take Anubis and win the series vs @BIGCLANgg 2-1 locking themselves into Stage 2 of #IEM Cologne!
13-7 Dust 2
10-13 Mirage
13-10 Anubis pic.twitter.com/JXmnPjjw3H— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 9, 2024
The MongolZ secured their group stage spot after a nail-biting 2-1 (4-13, 13-8, 16-14) victory over Eternal Fire.
The Mongolian team rebounded from a rough start on Anubis and capitalized on a shaky performance from Ismailcan “?XANTARES?” D?rtkarde? on Mirage.
Despite a strong counter-terrorist half from XANTARES on Nuke, The MongolZ’s aggressive plays, particularly from Garidmagnai “?bLitz?” Byambasuren, helped them secure the win in overtime.
Eternal Fire’s leader, Engin “?MAJ3R?” K��peli, took responsibility for the loss, citing strategic errors on the terrorist side of Nuke.
.@1mongolz have done it!
They take down @eternalfiregg 2-1 after a close fight in order to advance at #IEM Cologne 2024
4-13 Anubis
13-8 Mirage
16-14 Nuke pic.twitter.com/etTpH3xn5X— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 9, 2024
In a domestic derby, paiN defeated MIBR 2-1 (13-10, 4-13, 13-3) to clinch the final group stage spot.
The series began with a close contest on Mirage, with paiN edging out a 13-10 win thanks to a crucial play by Rodrigo “?biguzera?” Bittencourt.
MIBR bounced back on Anubis, dominating with a 13-4 victory.
However, paiN responded with a commanding performance on Vertigo, where a second-round forcebuy set the tone for their 13-3 victory.
The win secured paiN��s place in the group stage, while MIBR was eliminated from the tournament after back-to-back losses on the final day of the play-in stage.
These teams will now join the group stage of IEM Cologne, where they will face even tougher competition in their quest for the title.
The final spot in #IEM Cologne Stage 2 will go the way of @paiNGamingBR after taking down their country men in @MIBR 2-1
13-10 Mirage
4-13 Anubis
13-3 pic.twitter.com/sB6p4bVucD— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 9, 2024
IEM Cologne groups
Group A
- Natus Vincere
- paiN Gaming
- Astralis
- 9z Team
- G2 Esports
- SAW
- Team Spirit
- The Mongolz
Group B
- MOUZ
- Falcons
- Virtus.pro
- Complexity
- FaZe Clan
- Team Liquid
- Team Vitality
- FURIA
]]>
The first day produced some upset results, with The Mongolz and Heroic going down as the esports betting sites’ favourite in their opening best-of-three series.
The Mongolz are on the brink of elimination at IEM Cologne after a 1-2 loss to SAW, faltering on defence.
BIG, on the other hand, managed a comeback victory over FlyQuest after initially blowing a 9-3 lead.
These two winners will face off for a spot in the main event of the tournament.
SAW, energised and well-prepared under new head coach Danny “?BERRY?” Kr��ger, overcame a slow start on Anubis.
They trailed 4-8 on the counter-terrorist side but rallied in the second half, exploiting The MongolZ’s weak B bomb site.
Despite a comeback from The Mongolz forcing overtime, SAW secured a 16-13 win.
After The Mongolz won on Ancient, SAW dominated Dust2, with key contributions from Jo?o ‘story’ Vieira, Michel ‘ewjerkz’ Pinto, and Rafael ‘arrozdoce’ Wing, to win 13-5.
.@BIGCLANgg put a stop to the @FlyQuestCS comeback at the last hour! The German squad opens their #IEM Cologne 2024 campaign with a victory
14-16 Ancient
13-10 Inferno
13-11 Vertigo pic.twitter.com/B9DTOIWTD7— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 7, 2024
BIG’s match against FlyQuest was similarly dramatic.
After trading 9-3 terrorist halves and forcing overtime, FlyQuest took the lead.
BIG responded by winning on Inferno and dominating Vertigo with a 10-0 start.
FlyQuest attempted a comeback, but BIG held on for a 13-11 victory.
MIBR, under new in-game leader Andr�� “?drop?” Abreu, defeated Heroic 2-1.
Heroic struggled on the defensive side, losing 7-13 on Mirage and Anubis after a strong start on Ancient.
MIBR’s Felipe “?insani?” Yuji and AWPer Rafael “?saffee?” Costa were standout performers.
.@MIBR take down @heroicgg 2-1 in their opening game of #IEM Cologne 2024
10-13 Ancient
13-7 Mirage
13-7 Anubis pic.twitter.com/GtNPlIX1xR— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 7, 2024
The next phase will see 3DMAX face Heroic in an elimination match, and 9z Team take on MIBR for a group stage spot.
9z easily defeated 3DMAX 13-3 and 13-4, showcasing star player Franco “?dgt?” Garcia and captain Maximiliano “?max?” Gonzalez.
Eternal Fire is close to securing a spot in the main event after a 2-1 win over Falcons.
The match saw standout performances from Ismailcan “?XANTARES?” D?rtkarde? on Vertigo and ?zg��r “?woxic?” Eker on Dust2, despite some sloppy play from both teams.
Team Liquid and FURIA won their opening matches, defeating paiN Gaming and Imperial, respectively.
Liquid, coming off strong performances at BLAST Premier Fall Groups, overcame paiN with solid terrorist-side efforts on Anubis and Inferno.
FURIA’s Brazilian derby against Imperial saw them recover from a disastrous start on Dust2 to win the series 2-1, highlighted by a 13-0 thrashing on Inferno.
Day one of #IEM Cologne 2024 and we've seen it all.
A back and forth affair that goes 3 maps until @FURIA decided to end it with a 13-0 against @imperialesports
3-13 Dust 2
13-11 Nuke
13-0 Inferno pic.twitter.com/Os0naPYZyI— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 7, 2024
Thursday’s IEM Cologne play-in fixtures
- SAW ($1.80) vs BIG ($1.90) @ 1:30pm CEST
- The Mongolz ($1.40) vs FlyQuest ($2.75) @ 1:30pm CEST
- 3DMAX ($2.25) vs Heroic ($1.57) @ 3:45pm CEST
- FURIA ($2.62) vs Team Liquid ($1.44) @ 3:45pm CEST
- ALTERNATE aTTaX ($7.00) vs Falcons ($1.08) @ 6:45pm CEST
- Complexity ($2.10) vs Eternal Fire ($1.66) @ 6:45pm CEST
]]>
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30am CEST | FlyQuest ($2.10) | BIG ($1.66) | Over $1.83 | Under $1.83 |
FlyQuest and BIG have enough talent on their rosters to qualify for the IEM Cologne 2024 main event. However, it is tough to pick a winner between these two, and betting on the total maps market looks to be the safest play.
Over 2.5 maps
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30am CEST | The Mongolz ($1.36) | SAW ($3.00) | Over $2.00 | Under $1.72 |
The Mongolz broke into the top 10 on the ESL world rankings for the first time, but they have since dropped to 11th. The Mongolian squad is ranked 18 spots higher than SAW and shouldn’t have much trouble beating the Portuguese roster.
The Mongolz -1.5 maps
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:30pm CEST | Heroic ($1.36) | MIBR ($3.00) | Over $2.00 | Under $1.72 |
Heroic will have to play at IEM Cologne with Volodymyr “Woro2k” Veletnjuk as a stand-in, which should make this clash against MIBR closer than first expected. Neither team enters this event in great form, so taking the underdog at the match line is the play.
MIBR +1.5 maps
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1:30pm CEST | 3DMAX ($2.00) | 9z Team ($1.80) | Over $1.88 | Under $1.91 |
9z Team surprised everyone when they finished in third-fourth place at IEM Dallas 2024, where they defeated the likes of Liquid, Vitality and MOUZ. 3DMAX have had little time to prepare for their IEM Cologne campaign after being added as a replacement for BetBoom Team on Monday. At $1.80 with top esports bookmakers, 9z represent great value.
9z Team to win
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:30pm CEST | Complexity ($1.06) | ALTERNATE aTTaX ($8.00) | Over $3.25 | Under $1.33 |
These teams are separated by 84 spots in the ESL world rankings, so it is no surprise that Complexity are $1.06 favourites. There is no value in head-to-head or match-line betting with esports betting sites, so the round-line market is the value option.
Complexity -11.5 rounds
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:30pm CEST | Eternal Fire ($1.53) | Falcons ($2.37) | Over $1.83 | Under $1.83 |
Falcons have yet to win an S-Tier tournament since their inception into Counter-Strike; however, recent results suggest they are improving steadily. Eternal Fire enter this series as favourites, but given the improvement of this Falcons squad, the underdogs can spring a surprise.
Falcons to win
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30pm CEST | FURIA ($1.57) | Imperial ($2.25) | Over $1.83 | Under $1.83 |
FURIA are heavy favourites to beat Imperial, as they are 16 spots higher in the ESL world rankings. Following a strong performance at the Esports World Cup, it is hard to bet against this new and improved FURIA outfit.
FURIA to win
| Time | Team 1 (Odds) | Team 2 (Odds) | Total Maps (O/U 2.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7:30pm CEST | paiN Gaming ($2.10) | Team Liquid ($1.57) | Over $1.83 | Under $1.83 |
Team Liquid have looked better under the leadership of Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, defeating Natus Vincere twice en route to qualifying for the BLAST Premier Fall Final. PaiN Gaming have been competing against South American teams in qualifiers and A-Tier events, so it is hard to see them beating Liquid in this series.
Team Liquid -3.5 rounds
]]>
Led by Finn “karrigan” Andersen, FaZe delivered a statement win against last year’s champions, G2, who struggled to find their rhythm throughout the series, particularly with Nikola “NiKo” Kova? and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov underperforming.
NOT A PROBLEM FOR @FaZeClan!
They cleanly take care of @G2CSGO, winning 2-0 to move on to the #IEM Katowice 2024 semi-finals!!
13-9 Inferno
13-6 Ancient pic.twitter.com/MzDom5Qmpy— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 9, 2024
The showdown commenced on Inferno, where G2 initially gained momentum with a strong CT start, only to be thwarted by FaZe’s resilience.
Despite G2’s early lead, FaZe rallied behind standout performances from players like Helvijs “broky” Saukants and David “frozen” ?er��ansky, securing crucial rounds to clinch the map.
Transitioning to Ancient for the second leg, FaZe continued their dominance, capitalizing on early leads and maintaining control throughout.
G2 attempted to mount a comeback, but FaZe’s superior aim and strategic preparation proved insurmountable, ultimately sealing their victory and advancing to the semi-finals.
Later on, Falcons delivered a stunning upset by defeating ENCE 2-1 (13-5, 9-13, 13-11) in a nail-biting three-map series, securing their spot in the semi-finals.
Pavle “Maden” Bo?kovi? emerged as a standout player for Falcons, delivering exceptional performances across all three maps and showcasing newfound versatility within the team.
Despite ENCE’s valiant effort, Falcons’ relentless aggression and tactical prowess proved too much to overcome.
SEMI-FINALS SECURED.@TeamFalconsGG fight off the Polish crowd fueled @ENCE to make it to the #IEM Katowice top 4!
13-5 Mirage
9-13 Overpass
13-11 Nuke pic.twitter.com/o3fasWlhBB— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 9, 2024
With Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer at the helm, Falcons demonstrated resilience and adaptability, setting the stage for an exciting clash with Team Spirit in the upcoming semi-final match.
Overall, FaZe’s commanding victory and Falcons’ surprising triumph underscored the intensity and unpredictability of IEM Katowice 2024, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the next chapter in the tournament’s unfolding drama.
Saturday’s semi-final matches
- MOUZ ($2.37) vs FaZe Clan ($1.53) @ 4:30pm CET
- Team Spirit ($1.28) vs Falcons ($3.50) @ 7:30pm CET
In a captivating showdown, Falcons soared to victory over Natus Vincere, claiming a decisive 2-0 (13-11, 13-4) triumph.
.@FalconsEsport are going to the #IEM Katowice 2024 Playoffs!!
They take down @natusvincere 2-0 in the lower bracket final of Group A
13-11 Ancient
13-4 Mirage pic.twitter.com/kHAQaQ2uXu— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) February 6, 2024
Despite a strong start from Na’Vi, Falcons capitalized on key moments, particularly on Ancient, where they exploited a pivotal half-buy to turn the tide in their favour.
Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen highlighted the mental collapse of his team as a significant factor in their defeat, emphasizing the importance of confidence in gameplay.
Notably, ��lvaro “SunPayus” Garc��a and Mohammad “BOROS” Malhas showcased standout performances, underscoring the team’s growth throughout the Counter-Strike tournament.
Falcons’ evolution was evident, progressing from earlier shaky matches to a dominant display against Na’Vi, setting the stage for an intriguing playoff journey.
Meanwhile, G2 secured their playoff berth with a commanding 2-0 (13-9, 13-8) victory over Heroic.
Despite facing challenges, including losing all four pistol rounds, G2’s resilience and firepower shone through, particularly with Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov delivering impactful performances.
Nikola “NiKo” Kova?’s resurgence bolstered G2’s efforts, notably on Nuke, where his exceptional play propelled his team to victory.
The lower bracket run has been complete.@G2CSGO take down @heroicgg 2-0 in the lower bracket final to make it to the #IEM Katowice 2024 playoffs!
13-9 Vertigo
13-8 Nuke pic.twitter.com/5NjufRQHOS— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) February 6, 2024
However, concerns lingered regarding G2’s pistol struggles and individual inconsistencies, highlighting areas for improvement as they gear up for a quarter-final clash against FaZe Clan.
The matchup promises excitement, especially with the involvement of legendary coaches Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas and Filip “NEO” Kubski rallying their respective teams and the Polish crowd.
Friday’s quarter-final matches
- FaZe Clan ($1.57) vs G2 Esports ($2.25) @ 4:30pm CET
- ENCE ($2.10) vs Falcons ($1.66) @ 7:30pm CET
Their decision to pick Overpass paid off, with Valeriy “?b1t?” Vakhovskiy shining in an overtime victory.
However, G2 weren’t going to roll over, and they went on to take their map pick, Inferno, to send the series to Anubis.
Despite a close first and second map, NAVI dominated on Anubis, winning 13-9.
.@natusvincere are your victors after a spicy spicy series
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/6m5SjjYvro
— BLAST Premier
In another Group C matchup, Ninjas in Pyjamas faced Complexity, aiming for redemption after a tough start.
NiP, with a strong CT side performance from Kristian ‘k0nfig’ Wienecke and Patrick ‘es3tag’ Hansen, secured a 13-9 victory on the first map.
They continued their dominance on Ancient, winning 13-5, setting up a rematch with G2 in the consolidation final.
Victory for the Ninjas at the Spring Groups
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/xnm2q9BxI4
— BLAST Premier
Astralis impressed by defeating Team Vitality 2-1 (13-10, 6-13, 13-4) in the Group A upper final.
Vitality, the world’s best Counter-Strike, team struggled on Mirage before finding form on Vertigo, where they won in dominant fashion.
However, Martin “?stavn?” Lund’s strong performance on Overpass and crucial clutches by Victor “?Staehr?” Staehr contributed to Astralis’ dominant victory on the decisive map.
The loss ended Vitality’s nine-match and 12-map win streaks.
.@AstralisCS take down the World #1 at the Spring Groups!
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/9VvD75SCRb
— BLAST Premier
Falcons rebounded from a day one defeat against Astralis, dominating OG on Ancient (13-2) and securing the series victory on Vertigo (13-11).
The strong CT effort on Ancient, led by ��lvaro “?SunPayus?” Garc��a, boosted Falcons’ confidence.
The win sets up a consolidation final against Astralis, offering a chance for Emil “?Magisk?” Reif and Danny “?zonic?” S?rensen to face their former teammates.
It took all 24 rounds but @FalconsEsport secure the map and the series to continue their Spring Groups journey!#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/T8oeN3ZFF1
— BLAST Premier
Both Group B and D action will kick off on Wednesday, with FaZe Clan clashing with GamerLegion in the opening series of the day.
Check out www.fridaynightmadness.com’s preview of the day’s action here.
]]>Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, the fourth-best Counter-Strike player of 2023 showcased exceptional form with a 1.88 rating.
However, NiP’s lackluster performance, aside from flashes of brilliance from Fredrik “REZ” Sterner, made it an easier contest for G2.
G2 advances to the upper final against Natus Vincere, while Ninjas in Pyjamas faces a lower final battle to stay alive in the tournament.
In the Vertigo match, NiP initially led 3-0 on the T side, but G2 took control with six consecutive rounds.
Despite NiP’s efforts, G2 secured a 7-5 halftime lead.
G2 dominated the second half, particularly with m0NESY’s outstanding plays, closing the map 13-7.
The Anubis map was completely one-sided, with G2 overpowering NiP.
NiP struggled on their T side, facing challenges from deep flanks by Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen.
G2 secured a convincing 13-2 victory, sealing the series 2-0.
A gold star performance from @G2CSGO, picking up their first W at the Spring Groups
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/ttT0VbmUoq
— BLAST Premier
Natus Vincere also started strong, defeating Complexity 2-0 (16-14 on Overpass, 13-8 on Anubis).
Despite Complexity’s initial 5-0 lead on Overpass, Natus Vincere mounted a comeback, forcing the match to overtime and ultimately winning 16-14.
Natus Vincere faces G2 in the upper bracket, while Complexity aims to avoid elimination against Ninjas in Pyjamas.
A PERFECT T-side from @natusvincere sees them stroll past @Complexity in their opening series
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/ZpHybXFIYj
— BLAST Premier
Vitality continued their dominating form, dismantling OG 2-0 (Mirage 13-0, Inferno 13-7).
Vitality has now won nine consecutive series and twelve maps, carrying the momentum from their success in 2023 into the new season.
Mirage saw Vitality secure a swift 13-0 lead on the CT side, showcasing a dominant performance.
Inferno continued the trend, with Vitality maintaining control and closing out the series 2-0.
A much better showing from @OGcsgo on Inferno, but still not enough to take down @TeamVitality
#BLASTPremier pic.twitter.com/nwRqqrMe5P
— BLAST Premier
Astralis showcased their prowess, defeating Falcons 2-0 (13-8 on Vertigo, 13-3 on Ancient).
The new Falcons line-up, featuring three former ENCE members, struggled against Astralis’ masterful T side on Vertigo.
Astralis dominated the series, with Nicolai “device” Reedtz and the riflers leading the charge.
Astralis faces Vitality in the upper bracket final, while Falcons look to bounce back against OG to avoid early elimination.
.@AstralisCS feeling it on home turf, taking the quick 2-0 tonight!
— BLAST Premier
Tuesday’s Spring Groups matches
- Natus Vincere ($2.37) vs G2 Esports ($1.53) @ 12pm CET
- Ninjas in Pyjamas ($2.62) vs Complexity ($1.44) @ 2:30pm CET
- Team Vitality ($1.40) vs Astralis ($2.75) @ 5pm CET
- Falcons ($1.36) vs OG ($3.00) @ 7:30pm CET