G2 Esports secured their first CS2 title without their usual in-game leader, HooXi.
Stewie2K triumphs in front of home crowd
G2 emerged victorious at IEM Dallas after a thrilling three-map final against Vitality (Inferno 19-16, Anubis 13-16, Nuke 13-8), marking their first trophy win of 2024.
Replacing Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen with Jake “Stewie2K” Yip, G2 entered the tournament as the home favorites. Their impressive playoff run saw victories over FaZe and a red-hot 9z, culminating in a dramatic grand final win against Vitality.
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, who had not won a tournament since IEM Cologne 2023, was ecstatic. “I’m speechless; this has been one of the most intense games of the season. Stewie2K’s storyline here is incredible. We won somehow; no one knows how, but we did it,” said the Bosnian star.
Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, who earned the MVP award with a 1.61 rating in the final, expressed his excitement about defeating Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. “I don’t care about who I play against. We just won IEM Dallas; it’s crazy. This guy is mythical; he’s an absolute beast,” he said, pointing at Stewie2K.
m0NESY shines in the grand final
G2’s pick of Inferno showcased chaotic and brilliant individual plays. The game kicked off with m0NESY’s 4k in the pistol round, and G2 maintained their presence throughout the first half, ending with a 7-5 score after Stewie2K’s 1vs2 clutch.
Vitality took the lead, nearly clinching victory at 11-8, but m0NESY’s 1vs1 clutch against ZywOo kept G2 in the game. Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač’s timely smoke push regained bomb control, but neither team could finish in regulation.
Three intense overtimes later, G2 secured a 19-16 win. Brilliant plays from m0NESY, NiKo, and huNter- overcame Vitality, who relied heavily on ZywOo and William “mezii” Merriman.
Anubis began with m0NESY’s heroics on the AK-47, but a back-and-forth battle ensued. G2 targeted Shahar “flameZ” Shushan’s A hold, and while flameZ struggled, mezii’s ace shifted momentum, giving Vitality a two-round lead.
Vitality’s five-round offensive streak and seven map points were thwarted by G2’s resilience, forcing overtime again. ZywOo’s triple kill in OT helped Vitality secure a 16-13 victory, pushing the series to a decider.
Nuke decider seals the victory
Nuke started with huNter- giving G2 an early lead, but mezii’s 1vs3 clutch equalized the score. Vitality’s disruptive CT pushes earned them a six-round streak, broken by G2’s upper rush. m0NESY outplayed ZywOo in another 1vs1, tying the half-time score.
G2’s second half began with a successful 3vs3 upper site retake, taking an 11-6 lead. Dan “apEX” Madesclaire’s crucial triple entry and 1vs2 clutch kept Vitality in the game, but his final clutch attempt fell short. G2 closed out the map and lifted the IEM Dallas trophy after a legendary tournament run.