FaZe Clan Emerge as first CS2 Champions in Thrilling IEM Sydney 2023 Showdown
In a heart-pounding grand final at IEM Sydney 2023, FaZe Clan emerged as the First Champions of CS2. After a thrilling three-map battle against Complexity. The grand finale was nothing short of spectacular, requiring all three maps and even pushing the deciding map into two overtimes. The contest showcased the best of CS2 esports and left fans on the edge of their seats.
The Final Showdown:
A Fierce Assault on Overpass
The first map was Overpass, Complexity’s pick. FaZe Clan started strong with ropz winning a 1vs3 in the pistol round, but Complexity bounced back with five rounds in a row. The half was close, with FaZe Clan edging out a 7-5 lead thanks to broky’s AWP quad-kill in the last round. Complexity turned the tables in the second half, winning the pistol round and taking control of the economy. FaZe Clan tried to fight back, but Complexity held their nerve and closed out the map 13-11.
Nuke: Complexity Strikes Back
The second map was Nuke, FaZe Clan’s pick. Complexity won the pistol round again, but FaZe Clan responded with rain dominating the yard area. FaZe Clan took advantage of Complexity’s weak economy and built an 8-4 lead at the half. Complexity did not give up, though, and managed to tie the score at 10-10 with some impressive plays from EliGE and hallzerk. However, FaZe Clan regained their momentum and broke Complexity’s economy with a low buy.
Complexity made a determined comeback, and the map was closely contested. However, FaZe eventually broke through, turning the tide in their favor with a 13-10 win, tying the series at 1-1.
The Decider: An Overtime Thriller
The third map was Ancient, the decider. FaZe Clan looked dominant on the CT side, winning nine rounds and shutting down Complexity’s attacks. They also won the pistol round in the second half, reaching double digits with a seven-round lead. It seemed like the match was over, but Complexity staged a remarkable comeback with EliGE leading the charge. He won a crucial force buy round with two kills and an assist in mid, followed by hallzerk’s ace on A and JT’s 1vs1 clutch. Complexity brought the score to 12-12 and forced overtime.
The first overtime was a stalemate, with both teams trading rounds and neither able to get an advantage. The second overtime was different, as FaZe Clan swept the CT side with three clean rounds. They then finished the job on the T side, winning the map 17-15 and the series 2-1.
Rain's MVP Performance
Håvard "rain" Nygaard's incredible performance throughout the tournament earned him the Most Valuable Player title for IEM Sydney. The Norwegian veteran stood out in an intense MVP race, outshining even his teammates Robin "ropz" Kool and Helvijs "broky" Saukants, as well as his Grand Final opponent Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski.
Rain's impact was undeniable. In FaZe's 12 map victories, he recorded the highest kills per round (0.84), damage per round (88.5), Impact rating (1.50), and overall rating (1.34). What made his MVP claim even more compelling was that most of his standout performances occurred in crucial moments during deciding maps of high-stakes series.
Rain, FaZe Clan. Image Source: PGLAn Epic Conclusion
IEM Sydney 2023 has started off the CS2 generation with quite a bang. FaZe Clan's triumph in a grueling grand final against Complexity showcased the spirit of competition in esports. Rain's MVP performance added an extra layer of glory to FaZe's victory. Underlining his significance in the team's path to success. In this new era of CS2, this achievement will be one to remember.
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Featured Image Source: FaZe Clan