It’s the story that has gripped IEM Dallas 2024 for the reason that starting. The return of the Smoke Prison, Stewie2k, standing in for HooXi on G2. Now, after a break from aggressive play, Stewie2k will make his return to the massive stage after qualifying for the Playoffs. It’s a dream story, however not the one narrative of IEM Dallas 2024 to date.
With the conclusion of the IEM Dallas 2024 Group Stage, we’re looking on the large narratives of the event to date. It’s been a banger event, with a lot to observe throughout three days of motion. Let’s get into it.
Stewie2k makes Playoffs
Credit score: Viola Schuldner | © ESL
Let’s start with the apparent. Stewie2k, standing in for G2, has helped the group to Playoffs on dwelling soil. Even when G2’s journey ends within the subsequent spherical, we’ll all the time have the second of the NA crowd cheering on the Smoke Prison on the massive stage one final time. These had been some legit wins, too, taking down Falcons, MOUZ, and Liquid alongside the best way. Stewie naturally had moments of rustiness, however broadly, he held his personal in a scene that left him behind two years in the past.
What we liked most about this was his moments of magic. In key moments, Stewie2k popped up with some enormous multi-kills to win necessary rounds for G2. Sure, m0NESY and NiKo had been extra constant – clearly. However Stewie wasn’t carried over the road by his teammates. He had large contributions and can now reap the reward together with his Playoffs spot secured.
Falcons fall flat once more
Credit score: Viola Schuldner | © ESL
I’m going to be actual for a second – I’m operating out of the way to speak concerning the failure of this Falcons roster in new and fascinating methods. Each time they present up, they appear to seek out new methods to lose. This time, a gap loss to G2 (with a stand-in) proved dangerous sufficient in a best-of-one, though a convincing win over Monte supplied some hope in return. This was shortly dashed by Liquid, who fought again from a map all the way down to ship Falcons packing.
We predict we’ll see a few adjustments from Falcons over the subsequent few weeks. A group constructed to win is struggling to win any matches in any respect – by no means thoughts tournaments. That received’t be tolerated in a corporation that pays large bucks for prime expertise. The newest failure at IEM Dallas 2024 is the newest in a protracted string of embarrassments for the group, and it’s troublesome to think about it happening any longer.
The top of Liquid?
Credit score: Viola Schuldner | © ESL
After crashing out to GStew within the Group Stage, cadiaN minimize a forlorn determine within the exit interview. Whereas in a roundabout way confirming something, his phrases indicated he could also be on the best way out of Crew Liquid within the upcoming participant break. The group that promised a lot initially of the 12 months now appears a very failed challenge, with nothing underlining that greater than being despatched dwelling by Stewie2k within the 12 months 2024.
We’d have liked to see this Liquid work, however evidently, that merely isn’t the case proper now. Is it finest for Liquid to chop its losses and check out once more as quickly as attainable? Maybe. But when IEM Dallas 2024 is the final we see of this iteration of Crew Liquid, we’ll nonetheless be sorry about the way it went down.
Spirit in Championship Kind
Credit score: Viola Schuldner | © ESL
After shedding the Remaining of BetBoom Dacha 2024, Spirit look proper among the many championship favorites at IEM Dallas 2024. It’s been an on the spot bounceback, and a incredible group effort total. Gamers like zont1x and magixx are again within the room, making Spirit a power to be reckoned with as soon as extra.
Maybe most promising for Spirit is that donk hasn’t lived as much as his personal bonkers expectations, but they’ve by no means appeared threatened by anybody to date. A win towards FaZe proved to be the most effective end result to date, and a Semi-Remaining awaits them in a number of days’ time. Even when Spirit don’t go all the best way in Dallas, the extra expertise this younger squad will get on the massive stage, the higher.
9z’s Cinderella run
Credit score: Viola Schuldner | © ESL
There may be not a single CS fan on the market who had 9z making the Semi-Finals of IEM Dallas 2024. Frankly, I’d name you a liar should you informed me you had them down as even making the Playoffs. The group we had on the very backside of our IEM Dallas 2024 Energy Rankings has made all of it the best way to the highest 4, and they won’t be achieved but.
Typically, fluke runs can occur. However beating MOUZ, Liquid, and Vitality is not any fluke, and in convincing vogue no much less. It’s an enormous justification of the 9z challenge, particularly for gamers like MartinezSa, who gave the impression to be taking a step down when he left Movistar Riders again in December 2023. We don’t know if 9z go any additional than the Semi-Finals, however regardless, they’ve caught our consideration going ahead.
MOUZ run out of power
Credit score: Luc Bouchon | © ESL
After two back-to-back event wins at ESL Professional League and BetBoom Dacha Belgrade, MOUZ lastly ran out of power at IEM Dallas 2024. It was certain to occur finally, though few would have anticipated them to crash out earlier than making it to the Playoffs.
Total, we’re not going to panic about MOUZ simply but. One event loss doesn’t outline a group, particularly one simply earlier than the participant break. Now, MOUZ have a interval to relaxation and recuperate, and we’re certain we’ll see them go from energy to energy all through the remainder of 2024.
Right here’s the complete record of groups within the IEM Dallas 2024 Playoffs:
FaZe
G2
Heroic
Vitality
Spirit (Semi-Finals)
9z (Semi-Finals)
