NaVi’s in-game leader, Aleksi ‘Aleksib’ Virolainen, continued his flawless run against the team that cut him in June of last year, with the grand final victory taking his record to 7-0 against the world number six.
Entering the Esports World Cup as the world number five in the CS2 world rankings, Natus Vincere was rated as a $7.00 chance and fifth favourite by esports betting sites to lift the trophy.
THEY'VE DONE IT!@natusvincere ARE YOUR #EsportsWorldCup #CS2 CHAMPIONS!
@AleksibCSGO
— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) July 21, 2024
However, it wasn’t the reigning Major champions that entered the grand final as the favourites, with G2’s form seemingly stacking up better than that of NaVi’s after they dismantled Virtus.pro in the semi-finals and defeated Team Spirit in the quarters.
The series started on Ancient, where G2 got off to a fast start and took an 8-4 halftime lead before NaVi responded with their own 8-4 half to take the game to overtime.
In overtime, it was Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kova? and Mario ‘malbsMd’ Samayoa that stood up for G2 and carried the team to a 16-14 win on their own map pick.
Aleksib and his squad would have been happy to move onto their comfort map pick of Nuke for the second map of the series.
Although they traded rounds with G2 and went into halftime with the score locked at 6-apiece, NaVi rattled off seven straight round wins to claim the map in dominant fashion and take the grand final to a third and final map.
Valeriy ‘b1t’ Vakhovskiy and Justinas ‘jL’ Lekavicius led the server in kills and rating after producing a near-flawless counter-terrorist side.
On Inferno, NaVi strung seven straight rounds together early in the first half and took a comfortable 9-3 halftime lead before the switch of sides, with b1t leading the way, recording a massive 1.84 rating on the terrorist side.
The two squads traded rounds in the second half, but with b1t still firing on all cylinders, G2 had no answer, and Natus Vincere wrapped up the series with another 13-6 scoreline to claim the Esports World Cup CS2 title.
@G2NiKo is the offical #EsportsWorldCup #CS2 PlayStation MVP! He earned an extra $50,000 for his efforts!
What a performance!
pic.twitter.com/1pG58Brpz1
— Esports World Cup (@EWC_EN) July 21, 2024
On a positive note for G2, NiKo was awarded the Most Valuable Player of the Esports World Cup event and collected the US$50,000 prize.
He finished the tournament with a 1.35 rating, +58 kill/death difference, and 94.2 average damage per round (ADR).
Both NaVi and G2 will return to Europe and prepare for the upcoming BLAST Premier Fall Groups, which will begin on Monday, July 29, in Copenhagen, Denmark.
]]>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
— 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.
]]>Their journey to this triumphant moment was nothing short of impressive, as they overcame a challenging line up of opponents, including FURIA, FaZe Clan, G2, and ENCE.
This image will go down in history.
The last CS:GO LAN CHAMPIONS
@torzsics @siuhycs @jimpphatCSGO @FROZENNcs @xertioNNCSGO@sycronecs #ESLProLeague
pic.twitter.com/xkyAYIeuX8
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) October 1, 2023
The young in-game leader, Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek, who had previously guided GamerLegion to the grand finals of the BLAST Paris Major, played a pivotal role in MOUZ’s success.
His aggressive play calling style blended seamlessly with the team’s abundance of talent.
One standout player in the finals series was the 17-year-old Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo, who displayed exceptional performance with a 1.25 HLTV rating in the final match.
Jimpphat’s youth and clutch kills in critical rounds made him a shining star for the squad.
MOUZ’s victory at this event not only secured them the ESL Pro League Season 18 title but also elevated their status in the rankings among pundits and analysts.
Their clean sweep in the finals showcased their dominance and resilience in a competitive field.
On the other hand, NAVI, although falling short in the finals, had an impressive performance leading up to the match, not dropping a map throughout the Pro League.
In the grand final showdown, MOUZ asserted their dominance right from the start on Inferno, winning crucial rounds and establishing a 4-0 lead.
Despite NAVI’s efforts to catch up, MOUZ maintained their edge, thanks in part to Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy’s struggles on the T side.
MOUZ secured a 16-10 victory on the opening map.
The pressure mounted on NAVI as they headed into their pick, Overpass, and MOUZ continued their dominance.
A remarkable performance by ��d��m “torzsi” Torzs��s and Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek gave MOUZ an 11-4 lead at halftime.
Although NAVI showed signs of life with a pistol round win and a five-round streak, the 17-year-old Jimpphat’s rifling skills halted their comeback, ultimately leading MOUZ to a 16-9 victory.
In the final showdown on Mirage, NAVI put up a better fight, with Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev making his presence felt.
NAVI briefly took the lead at 5-3, but MOUZ regained control, securing a 9-6 lead at half-time.
Despite NAVI’s efforts to mount a comeback, MOUZ maintained their composure.
NAVI couldn’t stage a comeback, and MOUZ sealed their victory with a sweep in overtime, ultimately winning the ESL Pro League Season 18 grand finals.
After turning in a massive performance throughout the season, ��d��m ��torzsi�� Torzs��s was awarded the HLTV MVP for season 18.
MOUZ’s remarkable journey through this tournament, featuring a young and talented roster led by siuhy, solidified their place as a force to be reckoned with in the Counter-Strike world, as they look forward to continuing their success in the upcoming CS2 era.
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