NAVI vs. Eternal Fire in ESL Pro League S20’s Grand Final produced one of the best CS2 matches of 2024. It was a gauntlet in every sense of the word, with NAVI eventually grinding it out across a thrilling 3:2 series. If ever there was an advertisement for the best-of-five format in Grand Finals, this was it.
Eternal Fire could have won 3:0
Credit: ESLCS on X.
While NAVI emerged 3:2 victors, it shouldn’t go unnoticed how close we were to Eternal Fire sweeping this series in a clean 3:0. EF won the first map, but lost both the second and third in heartbreaking 13:11 matches. These were as close as can be, and were eventually settled by the minute details. Eternal Fire even managed to lose against a low buy towards the end of the second map, an unusual throw in a round they should have been comfortable in.
If Eternal Fire win map two, they likely have the momentum to edge out map three, too. It’s heartbreak for the Turkish team, who were realistically just a couple of big moments away from glory. It’s so close, but when you’re up against probably the best CS2 team in the world in NAVI, you need to make every chance count. It has tragically cost Eternal Fire here.
NAVI’s tactical superiority made the difference
Credit: ESLCS on X.
B1ad3 and Aleksib as the coach / IGL combo truly makes for some beautiful Counter-Strike, doesn’t it? NAVI are deserved winners of ESL Pro League S20 thanks to their deep map pool and tactical superiority. It’s refreshing to see a squad rely on teamplay to win matches, rather than brute-forcing it with sheer firepower (we’re looking at you, G2). It has to be noted that individually, NAVI just weren’t all there today. Both w0nderful and iM had a good series, but jL and b1t would agree it wasn’t their own finest days at the office. Yet NAVI found the route to victory, nonetheless.
A moment that stands out is at 11:10 on the final map of Dust2. NAVI are winning, but Eternal Fire have won several consecutive rounds and are gaining momentum fast. During the 11:10 round, EF have a 4:3 man advantage, and NAVI have a single flashbang to their name. NAVI use it to flash jL, who at this point is having a rough map at 8:12, through a smoke, where he’s able to kill three and secure the round. Considering the context of the round, it was a tournament-winning flashbang. See for yourself.
It’s about total trust in each other, no matter the situation. That’s why NAVI are Champions of ESL Pro League S20. And that’s why we expect them to lift at least one more trophy throughout 2024.