One of the biggest CS2 tournaments of 2024 is hurtling towards completion, after today’s IEM Cologne 2024 Semi-Finals. On the agenda today was SAW vs. Vitality and NAVI vs MOUZ – here’s how the results went down as the action began on the server.
Vitality stop SAW underdog run
After FaZe’s calamity yesterday, Vitality were the team to finally end SAW‘s Cinderella run in the IEM Cologne 2024 Semi-Finals. It was a remarkable effort from the Portuguese team, but there was an undeniable gulf in class here that SAW just couldn’t compete with. Vitality had no interest in dragging this series out, taking it 2:0 with 13:6 and 13:5 maps. Nuke was a tough enough ask for SAW, and by the time we got to Dust 2, the energy was all gone.
ZywOo was his usual self in this series, coming alive particularly on Dust 2. But it was the veteran IGL apEX who really shined for Vitality. A 36:14 series was the statline as he delivered a performance 2013 apEX would have been proud of, rolling back the years in impressive fashion. He has been to the Cologne final on two separate occasions, in 2015 and 2019, losing both times. If he plays like this tomorrow, the third time could be the charm.
MOUZ suffer more Playoffs jitters against NAVI
If MOUZ are looking to dodge the “Playoffs chokers” reputation, this showing in the IEM Cologne 2024 Semi-Finals won’t help matters. NAVI were able to take them down 2:0, in a series that looked to get out of hand really fast. On map one of Inferno, NAVI almost stormed to victory. MOUZ mounted a late comeback, but it was too little too late before NAVI finally got the job done. Mirage was a much more competitive affair, with NAVI managing to come out on top again in a 13:11 map decided by the slimmest of margins.
Today was largely about b1t and iM if you’re looking at consistent individual numbers, but like in Vitality’s match, you have to give credit to NAVI’s IGL. Aleksib found himself with very few kills towards the end of Mirage, but two back-to-back ice-in-his-veins clutches ensured NAVI earned their Grand Final place in the LANXESS Arena.
There’s now just one matter to deal with. NAVI vs. Vitality, for one of Counter-Strike’s biggest prizes. We’re giving NAVI the edge, but the way these teams are playing, anything can happen in tomorrow’s matchup.
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