FaZe Clan won the IEM Katowice 2022 grand finals with a spectacular championship run, defeating G2 Esports in a genuine marathon of a series.
FaZe Clan overcame G2 Esports 3-0 to complete a thrilling $1 million LAN event. FaZe defeated Heroic, Gambit, and Team Liquid in the final challenge to earn $400,000 and loads of circuit points for BLAST Premier and the ESL Pro Tour.
The grand finals stage saw two of the world’s most proficient teams battle toe-to-toe. G2 had its entire lineup save for head coach Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam, who tested positive for COVID-19, while FaZe played with Justin “jks” Savage instead of Hvard “rain” Nygaard, who couldn’t participate since he tested positive for COVID-19 as well.
Grand Finals start with miracle comeback from FaZe
G2 was in possession of the series’ debut map, Inferno. They held an 11-2 lead in the first half and many map points in the second half to put the game away, but FaZe rallied back and forced overtime as Robin “ropz” Kool produced a spectacular ace in the 30th round to keep his team alive. It was all FaZe on overtime. They capitalized on the momentum and won the game 19-15.
Map two ends for FaZe in quintuiple overtime in IEM Katowice grand finals
FaZe controlled the first half of Mirage and might have taken the map early, but it was G2’s turn to give it their best and escape loss, forcing the game into overtime. It was the most stressful map of the competition, going to fifth overtime, and G2 had a chance to equalize the series, especially with Nemanja “huNter-” Kova on fire. He had 57 kills and outplayed his cousin Nikola “NiKo” Kova, the team’s standout.
FaZe possessed Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken and jks, while G2 had huNter-. Both were crucial to FaZe’s victory, and it was the latter who put the last nail in G2’s coffin, defeating Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov and Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen in a one-vs-two clutch on the B bombsite to win the map 31-27.
Map two ends for FaZe in quintuiple overtime in IEM Katowice Grand Finals
Many fans throughout the world feared G2 would quit up after Mirage, but huNter- and crew persevered in Dust II despite the deficit. Once again, the map was determined by the slightest technicalities, and it narrowly went to overtime, but FaZe was able to close it off in regulation this time, winning 16-14.
Before the grand finals, both NiKo and FaZe’s Helvijs “broky” Saukants were leading the MVP race, but after the series, it was evident that broky had the greater influence. NiKo had a wonderful tournament, but unfortunately for G2 fans, he finished with a negative K/D in both Inferno and Dust II. Broky, on the other side, ended the series with a 95-80 K/D and was one of FaZe’s most influential players, second only to Twistzz.
After the series, FaZe captain Finn “karrigan” Andersen was more emotional than his teammates. After all, the veteran had previously competed in two IEM Katowice grand finals but had failed to win the championship. “I should have won in 2018, but I didn’t, so now I’m fucking going back and fucking getting this Katowice trophy,” the Dane sobbed as the audience chanted his name.
G2’s grand finals curse continues, as the organization hasn’t won a tier-one event in CS:GO since DreamHack Masters Malmö in 2017. FaZe, on the other hand, has won its third major Counter-Strike event with a stand-in, proving to the world that they’re back to compete for championships after a disappointing run in 2020.
Read more: s1mple made a statement about Ukraine at the opening of IEM Katowice play-offs
The final IEM Katowice standings are:
1. FaZe – $400,000
2. G2 – $180,000
3-4. NAVI – $80,000
3-4. Heroic – $80,000
5-6. Gambit – $40,000
5-6. Virtus.pro – $40,000
7-8. NIP – $24,000
7-8. Astralis – $24,000
9-12. MOUZ – $16,000
9-12. Vitality – $16,000
9-12. Fnatic – $16,000
9-12. FURIA – $16,000
13-16. OG – $10,000
13-16. Copenhagen Flames – $10,000
13-16. Liquid– $10,000
13-16. ENCE – $10,000
17-20. BIG – $4,500
17-20. GODSENT – $4,500
17-20. Entropiq – $4,500
17-20. Movistar Riders – $4,500
21-24. Wisla Krakow – $2,500
21-24. Sprout – $2,500
21-24. Renegades – $2,500
21-24. MIBR – $2,500
