Deprived of the title of the IEM in Katowice (Poland) last year after an unfortunate final, G2 Esports took its revenge on history, Sunday night, by offering the Danes of Heroic (3-1). This major event of Counter-Strike was on the other hand the scene of one of the biggest disappointments of the French of Vitality.
For several months, everything seems to smile to G2 Esports. After winning the BLAST last December in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), the Samurais followed up this Sunday with a victory at the IEM in Katowice (Poland), at the expense of the Danish Heroic (3-1). This triumph in one of the most prestigious and followed tournaments of the Counter-Strike scene allowed G2 to take away from their opponents the title of number 1 in the world, according to the ranking of the reference site HLTV. A return to grace for the team, which was beaten last year in the final of the tournament by FaZe Clan.
WELCOME TO THE G2 ERA
Your IEM Katowice 2023 CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/ClLR4Snr8B
— G2 Esports (@G2esports) February 12, 2023
In order to have the luxury of being able to claim this revenge, G2 has cheerfully dominated the competition, sweeping away several favorites in its path. Rasmus “HooXie” Nielsen and his teammates did not lose a single card in their BO3 (best of three rounds) against BIG (world number 14), FaZe Clan (world number 3), NAVI (world number 6) and Team Liquid (world number 4).
If Vitality showed some good things, the conclusion is bitter for the French structure. After a first slap in the face by Heroic (16-7, 16-4) in the group phase, the quarter-final match against Team Liquid finished off the Bees.
For despite a very large lead – 13/0! – on the first card, Vitality lost 17-19. It was a frustrating setback because Dan “apEX” Madesclaire and his team could have closed out the match moments later, after their easy win in the second set (16-7). The Hive then conceded the third card (16-12), letting the victory slip away.