The triumph marked NaVi’s fourth major event win of the year, adding to their already impressive record after victories at PGL Major Copenhagen, the Esports World Cup, and ESL Pro League Season 20.
Champions once again in 2024
@natusvincere
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) October 13, 2024
The international Counter-Strike roster once again demonstrated their tenacity, pulling off an incredible comeback on the fourth map, Ancient, to seal the series.
NaVi’s journey to the championship wasn’t straightforward.
They faced a challenging road to the finals, dropping a map to Team Liquid in the group stage and suffering a loss to FURIA Esports in their seeding match.
However, they rebounded during the playoffs, overcoming Virtus.pro in the quarter-finals and surviving a tense semi-final clash against HEROIC.
This marked their sixth consecutive grand final appearance, showcasing their consistency and resilience throughout a gruelling schedule.
The grand final began on MOUZ’s pick, Inferno, where the teams engaged in a scrappy back-and-forth battle.
Despite MOUZ securing a narrow 7-5 lead at the half, NaVi’s successful 2v4 retake swung the momentum in their favour, allowing them to edge out a 13-11 victory.
The second map, Dust2, saw NaVi dominate with a 10-2 offensive half, closing it out swiftly with a 13-2 win.
MOUZ showed signs of life on Mirage, carving out an early 6-1 lead and extending it to 8-4 by halftime.
A spectacular ace by ádám “torzsi” Torzsás in the second pistol round set the stage for MOUZ to take their first map, 13-6, narrowing NaVi’s series lead to 2-1.
With the series hanging in the balance, the fourth map, Ancient, seemed poised to push the contest to a decider.
MOUZ built a commanding 10-2 lead at halftime, driven by standout performances from Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo and Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin on defence.
However, NaVi refused to back down.
Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen rallied his team, and fueled by an outstanding showing from Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov, NaVi launched a dramatic comeback.
They won eight consecutive rounds in the second half, turning a 2-10 deficit into a 13-11 victory, securing the championship in regulation.
“We spoke about it the whole tournament, no matter how much you’re down, you can still win,” NaVi’s Justinas “jL” Lekavicius said.
“But it also works both ways, no matter how much you are up, you can still lose, so keep focus.”
His words encapsulated the resilience NaVi displayed not just in the grand final but throughout the tournament.
Following NaVi’s victory, jL was awarded with his second straight MVP after claiming the same award at ESL Pro League Season 20 in September.
HIS SECOND IN A ROW.@jLcsgo_ IS YOUR #IEM RIO 2024 #ESLProTour DHL MVP!
@DeutschePostDHL pic.twitter.com/6JPS61KH0c
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) October 13, 2024
For MOUZ, this grand final appearance was their first since BetBoom Dacha Belgrade in May, marking a significant improvement after a lacklustre ESL Pro League Season 20.
While they fell short of claiming the title, MOUZ’s young lineup showed promise, especially in their performances against formidable teams throughout the event.
Despite the heartbreak of losing from a 10-2 lead on Ancient, Jimpphat expressed optimism for the future, stating, “I don’t think we have that fear [of the stage] anymore. We have so much experience already that I think it’s basically overcome.”
NaVi’s win at IEM Rio 2024 solidifies their status as the top team in CS2, having successfully navigated a turbulent playoff run to claim their fourth title of the year.
The victory also keeps their Intel Grand Slam hopes alive, needing two more tournament wins to secure the million-dollar bonus.
As they continue their quest for greatness, NaVi has proven once again that they thrive under pressure, turning seemingly insurmountable deficits into triumphant victories.
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The match, held in Saint Julians, Malta, went the distance, with NaVi emerging as the champions after a fiercely contested best-of-five series.
This victory marks NaVi’s third Big Event title of 2024 and their fourth consecutive grand final appearance, solidifying their position as one of the top Counter-Strike 2 teams of the year.
ALEKSI'S CURSE HAS BEEN BROKEN.
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) September 22, 2024
NaVi, led by captain Aleksi “?Aleksib?” Virolainen, entered the final as heavy favourites with esports betting sites after a dominant group stage and playoff performance, where they defeated Team Spirit and G2 Esports.
However, Eternal Fire, the underdog Turkish team, pushed NaVi to the limit.
The series opened on Nuke, where Eternal Fire took an early lead, winning the map 13-8, with key contributions from ?zgür “?woxic?” Eker.
NaVi responded by edging out victories on Anubis (13-11) and Ancient (13-11), though the matches remained intensely close.
Inferno, the fourth map, saw Eternal Fire dominate with a 13-4 victory, setting up a decisive fifth map on Dust2.
The final map mirrored the back-and-forth tension of the series, but NaVi ultimately secured a 13-10 victory, with Justinas “?jL?” Lekavicius delivering a critical triple kill to seal the win.
Following his standout performances throughout the group stage and in each of their three playoff victories, jL was awarded with the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award for the 20th season of ESL Pro League.
It was the second MVP medal that jL has earned in 2024, after he earned the same award for NaVi when they took out PGL Major Copenhagen in March.
THE #ESLProLeague XX #ESLProTour DHL MVP
JLEGEND @jLcsgo_
@DeutschePostDHL pic.twitter.com/mzk0qELxg4
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) September 22, 2024
The victory was especially sweet for Aleksib, as it marked his first best-of-five final win after enduring seven consecutive best-of-five series’ losses.
Eternal Fire, despite the loss, made history by becoming the first Turkish team to reach a Big Event grand final, defeating world No. 1 Vitality along the way.
Captain Engin “?MAJ3R?” Küpeli reflected on the near-upset, expressing pride in their performance despite the heartbreak of losing such a close series.
Aleksib praised his team’s consistency after the match, emphasising NaVi’s four consecutive grand final appearances and two best-of-five victories this year.
He noted that their teamwork and tactical depth, overseen by coach Andrij “B1ad3” Ghorodensjkyj, were key factors in their success, even on a day when individual performances were not at their peak.
NaVi will quickly shift their focus to the upcoming BLAST Premier Fall Final, which begins on September 25 in Copenhagen, Denmark, while Eternal Fire will have two weeks to lick their wounds before IEM Rio kicks off on October 7.
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Their journey to the top was paved with nail-biting moments and standout performances, culminating in a well-deserved 2-1 (13-9, 2-13, 13-3) win over FaZe Clan.
First Counter-Strike 2 Major winners
#PGLMAJOR pic.twitter.com/eDhIBQokGN
— PGL (@pglesports) March 31, 2024
The grand final against FaZe showcased NAVI’s resilience and strategic prowess.
Despite facing initial setbacks, NAVI’s Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy and Justinas “jL” Lekavicius displayed exceptional skill, particularly on Inferno, where they dominated with a stunning 13-3 victory.
This win not only secured NAVI the championship but also earned jL his first MVP medal, highlighting his stellar contribution throughout the tournament.
Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen’s leadership played a crucial role in NAVI’s success.
After enduring challenges in previous years, Aleksib’s strategic acumen and team cohesion propelled NAVI to victory.
His effective in-game calls were evident, notably on Ancient and Inferno, where NAVI secured crucial wins against their European rivals.
The grand final’s dynamic gameplay showcased the evolution of Counter-Strike 2 strategies, with both teams demonstrating tactical depth and resilience.
NAVI’s ability to adapt and maintain composure under pressure ultimately secured their triumph.
The victory marks a significant milestone for NAVI, solidifying their position as one of the top Counter-Strike organizations.
With players like b1t and jL delivering standout performances, and Aleksib leading the charge, NAVI’s success at PGL Major Copenhagen will be remembered as a testament to their skill and determination.
For FaZe Clan, the loss signifies another heartbreak, especially for veterans like Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen and H?vard ‘rain’ Nygaard, who faced a similar fate in previous Major finals.
Despite their valiant effort, FaZe fell short against NAVI’s formidable line-up.
Overall, PGL Major Copenhagen provided fans with unforgettable moments and showcased the competitive spirit of CS2 at its finest.
As NAVI celebrates their hard-earned victory, the Counter-Strike community eagerly anticipates the next chapter in this thrilling esports saga.
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