For Dan “?apEX?” Madesclaire, the triumph marked the end of a ten-year chase for victory at this prestigious event.
After falling short in two previous finals, apEX finally lifted the silverware, a dream realised after a decade of close calls.
“Finally, after three Cologne finals, I’m leaving with the trophy,” apEX said after the match.
His excitement was well-earned, as the French captain delivered a masterful performance, both tactically and individually, in a series that will be remembered for its high-octane action and razor-thin margins.
#IEM COLOGNE HAS IT'S NEW CHAMPIONS.@TeamVitality take down @natusvincere 3-1 in the BO5 to lift the trophy in the Cathedral!
16-14 Nuke
10-13 Dust II
22-20 Mirage
13-9 Inferno pic.twitter.com/0a0HRgI8n1— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 18, 2024
The grand final pitted two of the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 teams against each other in a best-of-five series that didn’t disappoint.
The first three maps were decided by the narrowest of margins, with Mirage, in particular, standing out as one of the year’s most thrilling games.
NaVi, fresh off their Esports World Cup victory, came close to bagging back-to-back trophies but fell just short in this epic contest.
Aleksi “?Aleksib?” Virolainen, NaVi’s in-game leader, once again found himself cursed in grand final series’, extending his record to 0-7 in best-of-five matches.
Meanwhile, Justinas “?jL?” Lekavicius, who had been a standout at the Copenhagen Major, struggled throughout the series, finishing at the bottom of the leaderboard, a far cry from his usual form.
The series began on Nuke, where NaVi’s leading MVP candidate, Valeriy “?b1t?” Vakhovskiy, had an uncharacteristically rough start, going 1-11 in the first half.
Despite a brief resurgence, NaVi couldn’t recover, and Vitality took the map 16�C13.
On Dust2, NaVi bounced back, with b1t finding his form and leading his team to a narrow victory, but the story of the series was far from over.
Mirage proved to be the turning point.
Both teams were riding high on long win streaks on the map, and the match lived up to expectations, going all the way to a 22-20 triple overtime finish.
ZywOo was the hero for Vitality, delivering crucial plays in overtime that swung the map in his team’s favour.
By the time the series reached Inferno, the momentum was firmly with Vitality.
They dominated the early rounds and raced to a 10-2 lead.
Although NaVi showed resilience and mounted a late comeback, Vitality’s William “?mezii?” Merriman secured a crucial triple kill on the A site, sealing the series with a 13-9 victory and clinching the tournament title.
For apEX, this victory was especially sweet.
Having suffered heartbreak in Cologne twice before, once with EnVyUs in 2015 and again with Vitality in 2019, this was his third and final chance to capture the elusive title.
He didn’t disappoint, leading his team to glory and adding another prestigious trophy to his collection.
THE CHOSEN ONE CUT THROUGH EVERYTHING IN HIS WAY.@zywoo IS YOUR #IEM COLOGNE 2024 #ESLProTour DHL MVP
@DeutschePostDHL pic.twitter.com/GYH2XeCpvu
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) August 18, 2024
ZywOo also had a standout performance and was awarded with the Most Valuable Player award, finishing with 100 kills across the four maps, a staggering feat that solidified his claim as one of the best CS2 players.
The difference between him and NaVi’s young AWPer, Ihor “?w0nderful?” Zhdanov, was stark, with ZywOo’s experience and composure shining through in the most critical moments.
Despite their loss, NaVi can take solace in their successful 2024 campaign, which includes victories at the PGL Major Copenhagen and the Esports World Cup.
However, their struggles in best-of-five series remain a glaring issue, and Aleksib’s winless streak in such finals will undoubtedly be a point of concern moving forward.
As the dust settles on IEM Cologne 2024, both teams will shift their focus to the upcoming ESL Pro League season, which starts on September 3.
With neither team involved in the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown, they will have time to regroup and prepare for the next challenge.
In the end, this year’s IEM Cologne lived up to the event’s storied reputation.
The Cathedral of Counter-Strike once again delivered unforgettable moments, with Vitality and NaVi putting on a show that will be remembered for years to come.
From the knife’s-edge battles of the first three maps to the final triumph on Inferno, IEM Cologne 2024 was Counter-Strike at its finest.
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This victory marked their second title win in a row, successfully defending their crown as Pro League champions.
MOUZ OWN ESL PRO LEAGUE.
@mousesports ARE YOUR BACK TO BACK #ESLProLeague CHAMPIONS ON DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE GAME
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) May 12, 2024
“It feels amazing, back-to-back,” exclaimed Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo after the game.
“It means a lot, especially with this team, with Ludde (Brollan). It’s good to win a tier-one trophy again.”
Despite their consistent presence in the playoffs of Counter-Strike events, MOUZ had struggled to perform beyond the group stage in previous events.
“Group stage merchants, but also Pro League merchants,” joked Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek, highlighting their reputation.
The grand final showcased MOUZ’s dominance, with Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut unable to replicate his stellar form from earlier in the tournament.
Vitality faltered, with key players like William “mezii” Merriman and Dan “apEX” Madesclaire posting disappointing performances.
Vitality’s coach, R��my “XTQZZZ” Quoniam, expressed disappointment, citing poor communication and execution as reasons for their defeat.
ZywOo, despite his quiet finals showing, still received HLTV’s MVP award, but MOUZ’s Dorian “xertioN” Berman emerged as a standout player in the title decider, leading the charge with stellar performances.
For MOUZ, it wasn’t just xertioN shining; the team as a whole outclassed Vitality.
With siuhy boasting a 1.26 rating and Ludvig ‘Brollan’ Brolin stepping up when needed, MOUZ secured the victory convincingly.
The grand final was one-sided, with Vitality struggling to gain momentum on any of the three maps.
MOUZ’s strong performances on Inferno, Mirage, and Nuke left Vitality unable to mount a comeback.
MOUZ’s victory showcased their prowess in ESL Pro League, solidifying their status as elite contenders in the Counter-Strike scene.
Despite their previous disappointments, this youthful squad has found success on the Pro League stage, defending their title in impressive fashion.
Their flawless run in the tournament, coupled with a convincing grand final victory, was a stark contrast to their semi-final exit at the PGL Copenhagen CS2 Major.
MOUZ’s dominance in the studio setting was evident, with players like ��d��m ‘torzsi’ Torzs��s emphasizing their prowess.
While questions remain about their performance in larger arenas, MOUZ’s back-to-back Pro League victories are a testament to their potential.
As for ZywOo, despite missing out on the grand final, his exceptional performance throughout the tournament earned him another MVP award.
MVP No. 1⃣9⃣ pic.twitter.com/MgBYjJG7p6
— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) May 12, 2024
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Counter-Strike 2 commentator Henry “HenryG” Greer lauded TheMongolz’s performance, acknowledging Mathieu “Maniac” Quiquerez’s statement that it wouldn’t be fair to solely attribute the victory to G2’s underperformance.
CONGRATULATIONS @1mongolz
They are the FIRST team from group B to be guaranteed a spot in the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/ofOAzR99BR
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 25, 2024
Indeed, while G2 struggled throughout the series, TheMongolz showcased exceptional skill and coordination.
G2 found themselves outclassed on both maps, managing only a minor resurgence on Anubis.
None of G2’s players managed a rating above 1, while every member of TheMongolz surpassed 1.25.
Notably, AWPer Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch stood out with a remarkable 1.51 rating, 37-16 KD, and 89.2 ADR, showcasing his prowess despite being overshadowed by his rifling teammates.
One highlight for G2 was a standout play from Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, whose quad-kill on the A site with a scout briefly sparked hope.
However, G2 failed to capitalize, and frustration mounted as TheMongolz maintained their dominance.
TheMongolz displayed composure in a relatively low-stakes match, with more challenges ahead in the upper bracket final.
Meanwhile, Team Vitality secured their playoff spot with a comfortable 2-0 (13-4, 13-9) victory over BetBoom Team, setting up a seeding match against TheMongolz.
Vitality’s resurgence, particularly the improved form of Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, was evident throughout the tournament.
The second team from group B to be confirmed for the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs is @TeamVitality!
Congratulations
pic.twitter.com/JhUTPubdLc
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 25, 2024
After a shaky start against Sharks, ZywOo’s stellar performances against BetBoom signaled his return to form.
Dan “apEX” Madesclaire credited Vitality’s success to strategic rest and preparation, highlighting the team’s dominance on Mirage and their proactive approach on Anubis.
As Vitality faces TheMongolz in the upper bracket, both teams aim for a spot in the quarterfinals, while BetBoom hopes to avoid elimination in the lower bracket against Falcons.
]]>To commemorate this occasion, Vitality organized a special event at the Eiffel Tower, where ZywOo will be honored as the ‘King of CS’ and seated on a throne inspired by Game of Thrones, crafted from in-game weapons.
ZywOo’s journey with Vitality began in 2018, anchoring the organization’s first CS:GO team.
Since then, he has emerged as one of the franchise’s greatest players, boasting an impressive array of achievements, including 18 MVP medals, multiple HLTV Top 20 appearances, and numerous Big Event titles, including a Major victory.
Expressing his loyalty to Vitality, ZywOo emphasized the familial bond he shares with the organization.
He credited the team’s cohesion and success as the driving factors behind his decision to stay, dismissing any thoughts of joining another team.
Negotiations for the contract extension took several months, reflecting the significance of ZywOo’s status as one of the game’s best players.
While specific details of the contract were not disclosed, Vitality’s executive president, Fabien “Neo” Devide, hinted at its substantial nature, possibly making it one of the most lucrative deals in Counter-Strike history.
Looking ahead, Vitality aims to further integrate ZywOo into leadership roles within the team, envisioning him as a mentor for future generations of players.
This strategic approach aligns with their ambition to secure additional Major titles and solidify ZywOo’s legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats.
In a conversation with Team Vitality’s CEO and owner, it became evident that ZywOo’s continued presence aligns with the organization’s broader strategy of nurturing talent and fostering a sense of belonging.
Both parties are committed to building a long-lasting partnership, with Vitality aiming to support ZywOo’s growth and success for years to come.
ZywOo himself remains focused on the present, eschewing grandiose ambitions in favour of day-to-day improvement and dedication to the game.
Despite the pressures that come with his status, he remains grounded and committed to delivering his best performance in every match.
As Vitality embarks on the next chapter of their journey with ZywOo at the helm, their collective goal remains clear: to continue striving for excellence and cementing their place in Counter-Strike history.
THE KING IS STAYING
@zywoo pic.twitter.com/4I5asVbh5q
— Team Vitality
(@TeamVitality) March 12, 2024
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This marked their second consecutive triumph after the BLAST Premier Fall Final, solidifying their status as one of the world’s best Counter-Strike teams.
— BLAST Premier
(@BLASTPremier) December 17, 2023
Led by the tactical prowess of in-game leader Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Vitality showcased exceptional teamwork and individual brilliance to overcome FaZe Clan.
The series unfolded on Inferno (13-5) and Nuke (13-7), with Vitality prevailing in both maps.
The opening map saw FaZe Clan putting up a resilient fight, but Vitality’s teamwork, highlighted by standout plays from Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and Shahar “flameZ” Shushan, secured them an 8-4 lead by halftime.
A phenomenal 1v3 clutch by flameZ and ZywOo’s four-frag finale sealed the deal for a 13-5 victory on Inferno.
On Nuke, FaZe Clan initially gained a 5-2 advantage while attacking, but Vitality, under apEX’s leadership, responded with five consecutive rounds to lead 7-5 at halftime.
Despite FaZe Clan’s efforts, Vitality’s convincing force buy solidified their control, culminating in a final score of 13-7.
Individual performances were key to Vitality’s success, with ZywOo standing out as the star player of the series.
The World Final MVP closed with an impressive 38/19 K/D, 108.9 ADR, 81.6% KAST, 2.01 impact rating, and a phenomenal 1.69 overall rating.
Notable highlights included Robin “ropz” Kool’s impactful 2v3 triple kill on Inferno, flameZ’s clutch 1v3 save on Inferno, and ZywOo’s hat-trick on the same map.
After the final round was secured, Vitality celebrated their championship victory, capping off 2023 with a resounding win and a US$500,000 prize.
FaZe Clan, in their first tournament with David “frozen” ?er��ansky, claimed the runner-up spot and earned US$250,000.
The victory positions Vitality as a formidable force heading into the Major season, with PGL set to host the Copenhagen Major in March 2024.
While Vitality appears to be in peak form, FaZe Clan may need more time to gel with their new roster before making serious title challenges again.
The BLAST Premier World Final showcased not only the tactical brilliance and individual skill of both teams but also set the stage for an exciting and competitive year ahead in the world of Counter-Strike.
]]>This marked a remarkable debut for William “mezii” Merriman, who celebrated his first Counter-Strike trophy.
Despite FaZe aiming to extend their 18-match winning streak and clinch their fourth consecutive trophy, they delivered an uninspired performance, particularly on Vertigo, where Vitality dominated from the start.
Nuke saw a closer contest, but FaZe’s critical mistake at 11-11 proved costly.
Dan “apEX” Madesclaire expressed his pride in the team’s performance, emphasizing the intense collective effort in practice and individual skills.
The French tactician also highlighted Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut’s exceptional performance, earning him his 17th MVP award with a tournament-high 1.35 rating.
The series began with a surprise Vertigo pick from Vitality, a map they hadn’t played since IEM Cologne 2023.
Despite the lack of recent experience, Vitality showcased a strong understanding of the map, securing a 9-3 halftime lead.
FaZe struggled to recover, managing only one round on the map as Vitality dominated.
The momentum carried into Nuke, with Vitality taking a 3-0 lead after a clutch from mezii in the pistol round.
FaZe rallied with seven consecutive round wins, led by H?vard “rain” Nygaard, but Vitality closed the half at 7-5.
The second half featured key clutches from Vitality, including one from Lotan “Spinx” Giladi, securing an 11-9 lead.
Despite FaZe’s attempts at a comeback, Vitality reached series point with a decisive round, ultimately winning the match.
FaZe Clan’s flawless CS2 run came to an end at the hands of a resurgent Vitality roster.
Following a lackluster end to the Global Offensive era, FaZe had dominated CS2’s initial competitions, claiming titles at IEM Sydney, the Thunderpick World Championship, and the CS Asia Championship.
Twistzz’s reported move to Team Liquid raises questions about FaZe’s roster, especially with the impending merger with GameSquare.
Vitality, bolstered by the addition of Mezii, seems to be in top form as they head into the BLAST World Final and the first Major in CS2 history in March 2023.
Both Vitality and FaZe, if their core roster survives changes, are expected to be favourites in upcoming events, providing exciting matchups in late-2023 BLAST events and potentially meeting again in a grand final.
Major Winners and now Fall Final Champions
Congratulations to @TeamVitality
— BLAST Premier
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After being completely dominated on the opening map of the series (16-7), Team Vitality responded with back-to-back map victories (16-12, 16-9) to claim the US$400,000 winners�� cheque.
WELCOME IN THE VITALITY ERA #VforVictory
YOUR #Gamers8 CHAMPIONS
— Team Vitality
The current world number two entered the tournament as slight favourites with most esports betting sites, after their third-fourth finish at IEM Cologne earlier in the month.
Throughout the five-day event, Vitality and ENCE were the standout performers among the 16 teams that made the trip to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and they were deserving finalists for the US$1 million event.
ENCE came into the match with a point to prove after they were convincingly beaten by G2 Esports in the final of IEM Cologne just two weeks earlier.
However, even with a dominant victory over Vitality on Anubis, they went on to drop the next two maps and finish as runners-up again.
As for the champions, Vitality are expected to overtake Heroic as the world��s number one CS:GO team, as their Gamers8 triumph represents their third title success in the last four months.
Mathieu ��ZywOo�� Herbaut was rewarded for another stellar tournament with the Most Valuable Player title after he recorded the third-best average rating (1.26) at the event and carried his squad to victory in the grand final.
ZywOo picked up the 16th MVP award of his career and his third of 2023, cementing his claim as the world��s best CS:GO player.
Vitality and ENCE will now look ahead to ESL Pro League Season 18, which begins on August 30.
They will go into the $850,000 event as equal favourites with G2 Esports at $4.50 with GG Bet.
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The final 16 teams will battle it out across the next two weeks, to earn the right to call themselves the Paris Major champions and take home their own share of the massive $1.25 million prize pool.
Joining Heroic, Natus Vincere, Team Vitality, FURIA, Fnatic, Bad News Eagles, 9INE and Into The Breach, who automatically qualified for the Legends Stage through the RMR, we will have G2 Esports, FaZe Clan, ENCE, Team Liquid, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Monte, Apeks and GamerLegion.
Of the remaining CS:GO rosters left in the Paris Major, G2 Esports still remain the favourite at $4.00 with esports betting sites, closely followed by Heroic ($4.33), Team Vitality ($5.50), Natus Vincere ($5.50) and FaZe Clan ($6.50).
Below you will find our best bet to take out the BLAST.tv Paris Major.
Best Bet �C Team Vitality
After finishing third at the Europe RMR B and taking out IEM Spring (IEM Rio 2023) before making their way to Paris to take part in the BLAST.tv Paris Major, Team Vitality look primed and ready to win their first CS:GO Major.
Coming into the Paris Major, Vitality will be looking continue their six-series undefeated run, after they rattled off six-straight wins on route to becoming the IEM Rio champion.
With two hometown guys on their roster in Mathieu ��ZywOo�� Herbaut and Dan ��apEX�� Madeslaire, there is no other place that these two guys would love to win their first and second CS:GO Major of their careers.
For apEX, a Major win in France would be the icing on the cake after such a consistent Counter-Strike: Global Offensive career, which has seen him win several tournaments and one Major. With the 30-year-old in the twilight, he could finish it off with one of the best wins of his career in his home country.
For ZywOo, he is only 22 years old, and considered one of the best players in the world, after being ranked inside the top two in four-straight years and a win in the BLAST.tv Paris Major would see him breakthrough for his very first Major victory.
Couple those two with Peter ��dupreeh�� Rasmussen and Emil ��Magisk�� Reif, who bring seven Major wins between them from their time at Astralis, and Lotan ��Spinx�� Giladi – who is another rising star – and this Vitality team has all the tool that they need to go all the way in the Paris Major.
Team Vitality – Outright Win
After losing to OG in their first-round match at the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament, Vitality went on to win five straight matches to reach the final, defeating BIG (2-0) and Cloud9 (2-1) in their quarter-final and semi-final series, respectively.
When the first map went all the way to round 29 of 30, with Vitality taking their map pick 16-13, it looked like we were in for a great final series.
Heroic needed to win their map pick Inferno to keep the series alive, but after a 5-10 first half, the match was all but over.
No-one on the Vitality roster finished with a negative kill/death difference for the second map, with Emil “Magisk” Reif ranking lowest with an even record.
Vitality went on to win Inferno 16-12 and clinch their first tournament victory since August of last year, when they won ESL Pro League Season 16.
WE ARE YOUR #IEM RIO CHAMPIONS
Paris, we are coming #VforVictory pic.twitter.com/mJLIvatHn6
— Team Vitality
To cap off a successful event for Vitality, their star sniper Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his outstanding performance at IEM Rio.
After amassing an event-high 1.31 rating across 15 maps played, the French superstar won his 14th career MVP award.
ZywOo carried Team Vitality to the playoffs, finishing with ratings of 1.61 and 1.45 in their lower-bracket round one series win over FURIA and lower-bracket final win over OG, respectively.
Fro Heroic, the story of the perennial bridesmaids continues after reaching another grand final only to lose again.
The Danes have finished second in three of their last six S-Tier tournament appearances, including IEM Rio Major 2022, IEM Katowice 2023, and IEM Rio 2023.
]]>The player crossed the threshold with an impressive kill count of 143 in the recently concluded ESL Pro League Season 16 finals, where Vitality faced off with Team Liquid. Vitality dominated Liquid 3-2, and ZywOo was ahead of every player in the match in terms of stats. The Frenchman also attained a 1.39 rating across the series�� five maps and pushed Vitality to victory.?
?The previous record was 130 kills, which was garnered by 00Nation��s Marcelo ��coldzera�� David during a finals match against Virtus.pro in the 2017 EPICENTER tournament. At the time, coldzera was a part of SK Gaming��s lineup.?
?Besides his impressive kill count, ZywOo was named the best CS:GO player worldwide back-to-back in 2019 and 2020. The player was also named the Most Valuable Player of ESL Pro League Season 16 and broke his 10-month streak without an MVP medal. He was able to knock off Nikola “?NiKo?” Kova?, Mareks “?YEKINDAR?” Ga?inskis, and Ilya “?m0NESY?” Osipov to claim the award.? ?
From the start to the end of the ESL Pro League Season 16, ZywOo was on top of the scoreboard in every group stage match and helped Vitality stay undefeated in Group A.? ?Some of the player��s most impressive matches were against Endpoint and Team Spirit. There, the 21-year-old averaged a rating of 1.69 and 1.61, respectively.? ?ZywOo continued his remarkable play through the event’s playoffs and helped Vitality win victories against Outsiders in the quarterfinals and then G2 Esports in the semis.
The Frenchman averaged a 1.42 rating across the entire event and only reached one rating lower than 1.00 across the 21 maps his team played in the tournament. ZywOo was also ahead in terms of impact rating (1.52), kill-death difference (+207), and 56.3% in terms of rounds with more than one kill. He also reached a KPR of 0.91, as well as 15 clutches won and 536 total kills.?
Vitality��s next big event will be the IEM Rio European RMR, where the team will compete for a spot in the Brazil Major. The qualifiers will kick off on October 4, while the IEM Rio Major will begin on October 31. Vitality will open their campaign with a game against Fantasy, in which they have been pegged as $1.10 favorites by top esports betting sites.
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