Cologne always brings the heat when it comes to iconic Counter-Strike matches. IEM Cologne 2024 has proven no different, with a banger Quarter-Finals of play now complete. Where one series went all the way, the other was over in two – here’s how things went down on the server as we approach the finale of IEM Cologne 2024.
Credit: ESL on X.
Whisper it quietly, but SAW are playing for the trophy now at IEM Cologne 2024. Their Cinderella run so far is nothing compared to this, after taking down FaZe Clan in the most impressive of fashions. While it’s a shame to see FaZe’s remarkable comeback against Liquid a few days back amount to nothing, you can’t hate on the underdogs going the distance in a 2:1 series, which could very easily have been a clean sweep for SAW.
By the numbers, younger talents ewjerkz and arrozdoce will take the headlines, and with good reason. But it’s MUTiRiS who deserves the big plaudits. SAW’s leader has played ever since CS 1.6, so what a time to make the play of his career in the most ludicrous of 1v4 clutches – a play that ultimately allowed SAW to reach a winning overtime on map three.
Their story continues now against Vitality, who won’t feel at all comfortable if the Portuguese roster can bring this kind of form to the table in tomorrow’s IEM Cologne 2024 Semi-Finals.
Credit: IEM on X.
Our final Quarter-Finals match at IEM Cologne 2024 saw MOUZ further erase their reputation as Playoffs chokers by knocking out tournament holders G2. This was a G2 that had steamrolled everyone throughout their Lower Bracket run earlier in the event, including Spirit and Astralis, so it was mega impressive to see MOUZ take them in a 2:0 clean sweep. G2 relied on individual brilliance for big moments, but MOUZ simply called better CS on the day.
MOUZ’s two maps had individual heroes. Map one saw Jimpphat step up in crucial clutch rounds, when the rest of the team continued to struggle for form. His quality bought the rest of the team enough time to warm up and see out the map. On map two of Mirage, torzsi was able to single-handedly manhandle G2, going 21:8 in a huge show of dominance.
MOUZ will go on to face NAVI now in the Semi-Finals of IEM Cologne 2024. Win that, and you’d have them pegged as favorites to win the entire thing.
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