by The first semi-final of IEM Cologne 2024 saw Team Vitality secure their spot in the grand final after a commanding 2-0 victory over Portuguese underdogs SAW.
Despite entering the Counter-Strike match as favourites, Vitality remained vigilant against SAW, who had earlier taken down top teams like G2 Esports and FaZe Clan in a stunning run.
Vitality captain Dan “apEX” Madesclaire emphasised their respect for SAW’s performance, saying, “We did not underestimate them, but focused on ourselves, and it paid off.”
.@TeamVitalityCS aren't here to mess around! ??
They take down @sawggofficial with a clean 2-0 to secure a spot in the Grand Final of #IEM Cologne 2024
13-6 Nuke
13-5 Dust 2 pic.twitter.com/RNimfdL8c7— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 17, 2024
The match kicked off on SAW’s pick, Nuke, where the underdogs managed to stand toe-to-toe with Vitality early on.
However, after a crucial misstep against pistols, Vitality regained control, eventually turning a 3-5 deficit into a 7-5 half.
Vitality dominated on their terrorist side, allowing SAW just one more round and taking the map 13-6.
The momentum carried into Dust2, where Vitality crushed a deflated SAW 13-5, securing their place in the final.
For SAW, this loss marked the end of their best run in a Big Event, but they can take pride in making their first appearance on such a big stage in Cologne.
It was a CLOSE match but @natusvincere come out on top, defeating @mousesports 2-0 in the #IEM Cologne Semi-Final
16-14 Inferno
13-11 Mirage pic.twitter.com/RCzaHBbwfH— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 17, 2024
The second semi-final saw Natus Vincere (NaVi) edge out MOUZ in a tightly contested two-map series, extending their unbeaten run on Mirage to 12 wins.
Despite NaVi’s strong group stage showing, MOUZ made them fight hard for the victory.
MOUZ’s surprise pick of Inferno caught NaVi off guard, but NaVi managed to rally, winning crucial clutches to take the map 13-11.
On Mirage, MOUZ initially dominated, with Dorian “xertioN” Berman leading the charge with an 18-5 K/D and 152 ADR in the first half.
However, NaVi’s resilience, bolstered by clutch plays from Justinas “jL” Lekavicius and Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov, allowed them to claw back and win 16-13, securing their spot in the final.
Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen, NaVi’s captain, acknowledged that they need to improve their terrorist-side play if they want to defeat Vitality in the upcoming best-of-five grand final.
The match promises to be a high-stakes showdown between two of the world’s top teams, with NaVi looking to continue their dominant form and Vitality eager to claim their first trophy of 2024.
IEM Cologne grand final
- Team Vitality ($1.66) vs Natus Vincere ($2.10) @ 5pm CEST
