Counter-Strike 2024 Season Recap: A Year of Triumphs, Struggles, and New Legends
The second Counter-Strike 2 Major of 2024 concluded earlier this month and fans borne witness to one of the most entertaining seasons of Counter-Strike yet. Throughout the season, we’ve witnessed epic showdowns, emerging superstars, and stories of heartbreak and resilience that will be remembered for years to come. With underdogs teams rising up to the occasion, to seasoned veterans giving their heart and soul on the stage, we have seen it all come together this year.
As the year concludes, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the narratives and milestones that made 2024 a landmark season in esports history.
Counter-Strike Around the World
The MongolZ Break Barriers
The MongolZ achieved a milestone for Asian Counter-Strike. They became the first team from the region to reach a Major Playoffs at the Perfect World Shanghai Major. With spectacular performances, The MongolZ went 3-0 in both Swiss stages of the Major to become the only Asian team in the playoffs.
However, it was not meant to be for the Mongolian outfit. They lost their quarterfinal match against MOUZ to get eliminated at 7th-8th place.
The MongolZ Qualify for Shanghai Major Playoffs (Image Source: Perfect World)Team Falcons in Transition
Team Falcons grabbed attention multiple times this year, most notably by signing CS:GO legend Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyljev on a loan deal to replace Alvaro "SunPayus" Garcia. Unfortunately, the move didn’t yield results, as they were eliminated during the Shanghai Major European RMRs.
Recently, Falcons made headlines again by benching their core roster, leaving only Emil "Magisk" Reif. Rumors suggest G2 superstar Nikola "NiKo" Kovač might join the team alongside promising rookies. With such drastic changes, the future of Falcons is unpredictable, leaving fans eager to see what the team can achieve in the coming season.
Twistzz’s Return to Team Liquid
Going over to NA, we saw Major Winner and long standing member of FaZe Clan Russel "Twistzz" Van Dulken return to his former team Team Liquid. Although he started playing under Danish IGL Casper "cadiaN" Møller, but after his departure, Twistzz took up the mantle himself.
As IGL, Twistzz has inspired moments of brilliance. With the roster showing flashes of promise, 2025 could be the year they realize their potential.
cadiaN and Astralis Reunite
Speaking of cadiaN, the Danish IGL has had quite the journey in 2024. After being benched by Team Liquid in June, he made the bold move to go to Astralis to replace Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz as IGL. Astralis did make some shady moves, by benching Alexander "br0" Bro to bring in Cadian.
But this move also reunited Cadian with his former teammates Martin "stavn" Lund and Jakob "jabbi" Nygaard, adoringly called ‘stabbi’, a moniker they earned after their whole transfer fiasco in 2023.
Heroic’s Unlikely Resurgence
Although Cadian left Heroic in shambles, the team did a fantastic job rebuilding. Bringing in Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski to lead the team, along with Abdulkhalik "degster" Gasanov to take up the big green, Heroic have made a terrific resurgence. Currently they stand at No. 8 in the World Rankings. And it is evident that Heroic have long left behind their controversies to focus on the future.
The Rise of Natus Vincere
Team Spirit may have claimed the first trophy of 2024, but the spotlight soon shifted to the season's biggest prize: the PGL Major Copenhagen, the inaugural Major for CS2. With a $500,000 prize pool and career-defining bragging rights, every team was determined to seize the title.
The Major also marked the resurgence of Natus Vincere, a storied organization aiming to reclaim its former glory. Despite early setbacks in the Elimination Stage, with losses to Team Spirit and Cloud9, NaVi rallied when it mattered most. They stormed through the playoffs, defeating a red-hot Eternal Fire and a faltering G2 to secure a spot in the Grand Finals against FaZe Clan.
The finals delivered a classic showdown. With standout performances from Justinas "jL" Lekavičius and Valerij "b1t" Vakhovsjkyj, Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen finally achieved redemption after his near-miss with ENCE in 2019. NaVi triumphed over FaZe Clan to lift the first-ever CS2 Major trophy, marking the beginning of a stellar season.
NaVi win the first ever CS2 Major at PGL Major Copenhagen (Image Source: PGL)NaVi dominated throughout 2024, capturing four trophies—the most of any Tier 1 team—and securing first place on the BLAST Premier World Leaderboard. Their consistency reestablished them as a powerhouse in the Counter-Strike scene.
While the season’s conclusion wasn’t ideal, with NaVi missing out on key trophies, their journey proved their strength was no fluke. NaVi is no longer a struggling giant but a formidable force, and underestimating them is a mistake opponents won’t soon forget.
G2 Esports: From Chaos to Glory
G2 Esports had a rollercoaster year in 2024, full of ups, downs, and their trademark drama. Early in the year, they benched Nemanja "nexa" Isaković and brought in Guatemalan rifler Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa, but their initial performances were lackluster.
Their fortunes turned at IEM Dallas, where G2 claimed their first trophy of the year in spectacular fashion. With IGL Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen unavailable, super-sub Jake "Stewie2K" Yip stepped in. Under Nikola "NiKo" Kovač’s leadership, G2 had a dream run, securing the title and setting the stage for the rest of the season.
G2 lift the IEM Dallas trophy with Stewie2k (Image Source: ESL)However, struggles with HooXi led to his replacement by veteran Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski from GamerLegion. This change revitalized G2, turning them into a serious contender. Young superstar Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov had a breakout year, delivering performances that made him a frontrunner for the Best Player of 2024. Under Snax’s guidance, G2 emerged as a dominant force in the latter half of the season, matching Natus Vincere in intensity and results.
Their second trophy came at the BLAST Premier: Fall Final, where they triumphed over rivals NaVi. G2 capped off the year with a win at the BLAST Premier: World Final, defeating a formidable Team Spirit. Their strong performance continued with a respectable 3rd-4th place finish at the Perfect World Shanghai Major, closing the year on a high note.
With multiple trophies and renewed confidence, G2 has set the stage for a promising 2025 season, leaving fans eager for what’s next.
A Disappointing Year for FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan entered 2024 as the hottest team on the block, but the year proved to be far from smooth sailing. Reflecting on their season, Finn "karrigan" Andersen aptly remarked,
“For some teams, reaching Katowice and two Major finals in a year is good. For us, it’s a bad year.”
FaZe’s season was a rollercoaster of highs and lows, with inconsistent performances and struggles in crucial moments.
Their lone triumph came at IEM Chengdu, where they overcame MOUZ to claim their only trophy of the year. Despite flashes of brilliance at IEM Katowice, PGL Major Copenhagen, and the Perfect World Shanghai Major, FaZe fell short when it mattered most. Their Major campaigns were thwarted by Natus Vincere and Team Spirit. And their bid for the Katowice trophy ended in disappointment, also at the hands of Team Spirit.
FaZe Clan are champions at IEM Chengdu 2024 (Image Source: ESL)Their struggles were further highlighted by an early exit from IEM Cologne, courtesy of an in-form SAW. But if that wasn’t enough, one of their lowest points came during ESL Pro League Season 20, where they were shockingly eliminated at 13th-16th place by a crumbling Complexity Gaming.
To cap off a challenging year, FaZe found themselves in the headlines once more with Robin "ropz" Kool’s departure to join Team Vitality. As their standout player moves on, FaZe faces the daunting task of finding a worthy replacement.
With a turbulent 2024 behind them, FaZe will need to regroup, rebuild, and rediscover their winning form if they hope to reclaim their place among the elite in 2025.
Team Spirit: A New Era of Dominance
After the grueling BLAST Premier: Spring Groups 2024, 24 elite teams converged at the legendary Spodek Arena in Katowice, a sacred ground for competitive CS. It was here that a new legend emerged.
At just 17 years old, Danil "donk" Kryshkovets, Team Spirit’s latest prodigy, captivated the world with his unparalleled mechanical skill and unshakable confidence. Even overshadowing the high-profile addition of Dmitriy "sh1ro" Sokolov from Cloud9, donk dominated opponents and won the hearts of fans with performances that rivaled seasoned veterans.
Donk’s extraordinary showing, combined with strong support from his teammates, propelled Team Spirit to claim one of CS’s most coveted titles: the IEM Katowice trophy. Their triumph included defeating a dominant FaZe Clan twice, solidifying Spirit as a rising powerhouse in 2024.
This momentum carried into the year’s final Major, the Perfect World Shanghai Major, where Spirit once again proved unstoppable. Their journey led them to the Grand Finals, a rematch against their familiar rivals, FaZe Clan. In a breathtaking showdown, hailed by many as the best CS2 match of the year, Team Spirit clinched their first Major championship.
Team Spirit lift the Perfect World Shanghai Major Trophy (Image Source: Perfect World CS)Donk shattered records, including the most Aces in a Major and becoming the youngest Major winner, dethroning Markus "Kjaerbye" Kjærbye’s 7-year record. These achievements firmly established him as the brightest star in the scene and a near-certain pick for Best Player of 2024. Team Spirit’s rise, fueled by donk’s brilliance, has set the stage for an exciting new era in competitive CS.
Looking Ahead to 2025
As the curtains close on 2024, it’s undeniable that this year has been one of the most thrilling and transformative in Counter-Strike history. From underdog triumphs to dominant powerhouse performances, every twist and turn has enriched the narrative of competitive Counter-Strike 2. With rising stars like donk, legendary players finding redemption, and teams reshaping their legacies, the future of Counter-Strike looks brighter than ever.
Here’s to another year of unforgettable moments, intense rivalries, and jaw-dropping plays. Happy New Year, and may 2025 bring even more excitement to the global CS community!
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Featured Image Credit: BLAST Premier
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