G2 and Stewie2K are the IEM Dallas champions
G2 Esports completed their historic run to lift the IEM Dallas 2024 trophy.
What started as a dream, became a reality. And G2, while fielding a stand-in, exceeded expectations to win their first CS2 tournament.
Initially, the team entered the event with Jacky "Stewie2K" Yip instead of their in-game leader Rasmus "HooXi" Nielsen. Although the move seemed random at first, G2-Stew will go down onto memory lane as a highlight moment in his (Stewie2k) career.
On their way to glory, G2 defeated FaZe Clan and Vitality respectively. Two other contenders for the title. Moreover, under Nikola “NiKo” Kovač’s leadership, they beat the sizzling 9z who were the event’s dark horse.
Beaming with joy, “NiKo” shared his feelings following their triumph in Dallas, the first title in almost a year since IEM Cologne 2023.
"I'm speechless, this has been one of the most intense games of the season. I don't think you could have a better storyline than Stewie2k had here. We won somehow, no one knows how, but we did it," - NiKo.
24 rounds aren't enough
G2 with their classic Inferno pick kicked off an electrifying series that kept the fans on the edge of their seat. Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov, the tournament MVP, was quick to demonstrate his talent with a 4K on the pistol round. Since then, G2 held their feet throughout the first half with a collective effort from their star players, ending the half at 7-5.
Without any drop in the excitement, the second half started strong for Dan "apEX" Madesclaire’s men. Except for m0NESY’s 1v1 clutch against Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut, Vitality had six rounds to take the lead at 11-8.
Regardless of Nemanja "huNter-" Kovač’s attempts to close out the map in regulation, 24 rounds weren’t enough for the blazing teams. But, with brilliant plays from the Kovac cousins and “m0NESY”, they sealed the deal at 19-16.
On the flip hand, Vitality was lacking. In fact, only “ZywOo” and William "mezii" Merriman were firing on all cylinders. Thus, it wasn’t enough to take down a tenacious G2.
Vitality strikes back
Anubis began as Inferno ended, with a masterclass from the baby goat. Despite Vitality taking the pistol round, G2 on a force buy clinched the conversion. Yet, with a firm grip, king “mezii” on the back of a highlight ace on the A bombsite, shifted the momentum to their favor. Ultimately, ending the first half at 7-5.
In the second half, Vitality showed early presence with five consecutive rounds. However, against all odds, G2’s magic kept them alive from 12-5. Again, the stars of G2 were up to the task and completed an incredible comeback.
This time, it was ZywOo’s turn to steal the spotlight. On the back of a triple, it gave them enough confidence to win the map 16-13.
So far, the stage was fired up like a rocket with eyes sparkling in anticipation. The show continued on the decider map Nuke. Whereas the first two maps were competitive, the last carried a different scenario.
G-Stew crosses the finish line
Image source: ESLA strong start from G2 netted them a three round head start. Yet, Vitality held their ground on the defense with 6 rounds. And just when it seemed like they were on a winning streak, a sudden rush turned the tables. In a tense showdown, “m0NESY” outplayed “ZywOo” in a gripping 1vs1 encounter, bringing the score back to a tie at halftime.
In the midst of chaos, Mathieu vanished from the server. Consequently, G2 had the upper hand throughout the second half. “apEX” and his team barely managed to get a couple of rounds, before the show ended at 13-8.
Oddly, “ZywOo” had a minimal impact on the T side with a mere four frags, ending the map with his lowest rating since almost a year.
In the end, this iteration of IEM Dallas will go down in history as one of the best. With more storylines and takeaways than one can count. G-Stew has done it, and despite his last LAN being over two years ago, he exited the stage as a champion.
Nonetheless, the excitement doesn’t stop here. BLAST Premier Spring Final is coming up soon starting the 12th of June in London. So, be sure to tune in for more Counter-Strike.
Featured Image source: ESL
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