We’re two days into IEM Chengdu 2024 now, and we’ve already had a ton of surprise results on the server. Astralis looks dominant, while G2 and Heroic are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Let’s dive right into everything from today’s matches!
Credit: ESL
This is more like the real test we wanted to see for dev1ce’s Astralis. Leading from the front in his new IGL role, dev1ce and his team faced FaZe Clan for a spot in the Playoffs of IEM Chengdu 2024. They passed this hurdle with ease, winning the series 2:0 on Ancient and Nuke, two of FaZe’s best maps. If this is a sign of things to come, then consider us impressed already.
What’s most impressive about this new-look Astralis is the strength of the roles. Everyone looks extremely comfortable – the rather low-key signing of br0 has allowed jabbi and stavn to take on some more star roles, which they’ve risen to admirably. Meanwhile, Staehr has continued where he left off on the previous blameF roster, putting up solid numbers while never taking center stage. Could dev1ce as IGL actually be the answer? We’ll find out more in the Playoffs of IEM Chengdu 2024.
Credit: Helena Kristiansson | © ESL
Our IEM Chengdu 2024 power rankings were very complimentary of G2 and Heroic, and both teams have given themselves a fighting chance of reaching the Playoffs today. It was a scrappy affair for Heroic in particular, who had to battle back from a map down to FURIA in order to keep themselves alive in the tournament. In truth, it was a game that FURIA lost, rather than Heroic won, but the difference is negligible to kyxsan and his team.
For G2, just two maps were required to get the win over the line. Lynn Vision put up a great fight on Inferno (13:11), but ultimately it all came down to some more m0NESY magic to keep G2 in the fight. Now, both Heroic and G2 will go head to head at IEM Chengdu 2024, deciding one of the final Playoff spots. With how both these teams are playing at the moment, we can’t call it.
Credit: Enos Ku | © ESL
Another Playoffs spot was decided today, as Virtus.pro narrowly denied FlyQuest an upset to confirm their slot in the next stage. With VP’s first map win going to overtime, this was a series that very easily could’ve ended 2:0 in FlyQuest’s favor. The fact that the Aussies are pushing a team as strong as Virtus.pro to the brink is still a positive sign for where this team is headed.
On the day though, it was the brilliant n0rb3r7 and FL1T who made the key difference. Both have had fantastic transitions to CS2, and we think they’re a real dark horse to win IEM Chengdu 2024 at this point. Tomorrow, they face a rejuvenated Astralis to decide whether it’s a Quarter or Semi-Finals berth in the Playoffs.
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