What to expect in Counter-Strike 2 IEM Rio?
Only a couple of days separate from an exciting event in Rio for the Intel Extreme Masters, where some of the best teams will lock horns for a chance at the title and a ticket to IEM Katowice 2025.
The latest two events at ESL Pro League and BLAST Premier Fall Final shifted the possible outcome towards uncertainty with the fall of top dogs such as Team Vitality and Spirit, while Eternal Fire and Team Liquid saw a performance boost netting them respectable finishes at those events.
Along with the RMRs looming not far, this iteration of IEM Rio will give us a clear image on the future of these rosters in addition to their journey towards the Perfect World Shanghai Major.
So, based on their recent showing, here’s what to expect in IEM Rio 2024.
Brazil to show up on home turf
With three Brazilian teams playing in front of their home crowd, we expect at least one to rise to prominence and reach the Playoffs stage.
Both FURIA and Imperial Esports were successful on their latest international stage appearance, reaching the playoffs at ESL Pro League Season 20. Despite getting dealt with early, FURIA’s crawl back up from the lower bracket is a testament of their potential under a new coaching staff.
Out of the three Brazilian teams taking part in the event, FURIA stands as the strongest candidate to put up a show in Rio and that’s due to three main reasons: The home crowd, preparations and finally to prove this lineup can work, otherwise, a change is coming inevitably.
Image is exclusive to StrafeUndoubtedly, Felipe "skullz" Medeiros must find his rhythm within the team as he’s occupying important anchor roles. Within his first four events under the FURIA banner, his impact was minimal, averaging a mere 66.3 ADR and 0.62 KPR.
Shaking at the top
With FaZe Clan losing their torch, they are no longer a title contending team. Although it might be a hard pill to swallow for some, their latest results prove so. Pinpointing their main issues can be tricky especially since they’re boasting a stacked lineup with the greatest in-game leader and a perfect combination of bright talents between experience and sharp shooting.
FaZe Clan often shows two faces: A resilient team who defies the odds with incredible comebacks or a soulless team with nothing to show for in the server. This inconsistency might be their biggest drawback and it’s certainly enough to blow the alarm bells right before the Shanghai Major.
Another team who shares a similar fate is Vitality. Although they were champions at IEM Cologne recently, the following events ended unexpectedly for Dan "apEX" Madesclaire’s men as they lost to Eternal Fire in Malta on their first playoff game and later to G2, who seem like the most capable team out of the top ten.
Opposite to FaZe Clan, their main issue is clear with Lotan "Spinx" Giladi and William "mezii" Merriman. According to an unofficial leak, the team faced serious problems, including attempts to replace a player and possible conflicts within the team. Vitality has been trying to replace Mezii for some time, but they've struggled to find a suitable replacement. Moreover, the situation worsened when Spinx expressed dissatisfaction with Mezii's performance, and possibly with other team members or staff. At one point, Spinx even considered leaving the team.
These internal issues can affect the individual's performance, hence, relying on Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut to save the day. Yet, that might not be enough with flashbacks from IEM Dallas.
The dark horses to prevail
The MongolZ and Eternal Fire often showing up with full force and taking down the best in the world is no longer a surprise. These teams went against odds on many occasions and proved to be fearless.
Just recently, the Turkish squad reached the Grand Final of ESL Pro League Season 20 where they went neck to neck with Natus Vincere in an epic battle. Although Engin "MAJ3R" Küpeli lost in the end, their run will be remembered for years to come and certainly during IEM Rio as they enter the event boasting with confidence.
With both teams finishing in Group B, their chances of qualifying for the playoffs are strong, especially since only G2 and Vitality seem to be a tier above them.
Despite not showing up in full force on the big stages, The MongolZ had a fruitful year with six first place finishes notably at YaLLa Compass 2024, MESA Nomadic Masters Spring and a runner up spot at the Skyesports Championship.
If their individual players bring their A game to Rio, then The Mongolians and the Turkish can definitely make it an exciting event to watch with the storyline of yet another underdog who shakes the top of the mountain.
While these remain expectations, it will be interesting to see how the teams will perform including Astralis under new leadership. So be sure to catch the action as it unfolds on the official ESL Twitch channel and keep a tab on Strafe for the latest news regarding IEM Rio.
Featured Image source: ESL, edited by Strafe Esports
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