With IEM 2023 now behind us, we will lastly check out the event as a complete. With the Vitality roster rising victorious, we received a totally deserving, if surprising winner.
Vitality will get the W. Credit score: ESLCS on Twitter
No One Expects Vitality
It must be stated that Vitality was one thing of an underdog of IEM Rio 2023. They’re a crew with nice people after all, nevertheless it hadn’t at all times translated to large wins. Generally, simply having ZywOo to go kill isn’t sufficient.
That’s what was so outstanding about this run. Certain, ZywOo was the MVP of IEM Rio 2023, however he wasn’t the only motive they received the event. Each participant had their half to play. Spinx single-handedly carried them via the early event, apEX was entry-fragging like he was in EnVyUs as soon as once more, whereas veterans dupreeh and Magisk had been taking part in as in the event that they had been of their early 20s.
With the BLAST.television Paris Main 2023 only a few weeks away, the crew couldn’t have chosen a greater time to hit kind. It could be a hell of a homecoming, for ZywOo and apEX to elevate the largest prize in Counter-Strike of their residence nation. Taking part in like this, you wouldn’t wager towards this Vitality CS:GO roster.
FaZe Down
There was nothing “FaZe up” in regards to the efficiency of FaZe in IEM Rio 2023. It might be argued that they had been unlucky to face eventual winners Vitality within the Decrease Bracket, however they’ll solely beat who’s in entrance of them. And on their day, this FaZe CS:GO crew have proven they’re able to beating anybody – it simply wasn’t to be for them right here.
They’ve had a large number of demoralizing losses currently. Their Main RMR marketing campaign was on the verge of ending in catastrophe, solely qualifying by the pores and skin of their enamel. When so little goes proper for them, it’s tough to inform what is strictly incorrect with the FaZe CS:GO crew. That solely makes the issue a lot tougher to resolve. One factor is for positive – they should get themselves collectively quick for the ultimate CS:GO Main. Coming in on the Challenger’s Stage, they’ve received loads of CS:GO to play in the event that they’re to go far within the competitors.
FaZe can’t enable themselves to dwell on the IEM Rio 2023 outcomes. Sure, it was unhealthy. However in CS:GO, competitions come round quick, and the crew has the prospect to get again on monitor in Paris.
Rio Crowd Redemption
A lot has been made from the Rio crowd. At its greatest, it’s arguably the very best ambiance in the entire aggressive CS:GO scene. However after the 2022 Rio Main, there was speak that they solely present up for Brazilian groups. There have been early indicators of that right here, with cadiaN even making himself the pantomime villain after dumping fan favorites FURIA from the occasion. It was unhealthy sufficient that the official Heroic Twitter account dubbed the host area, the “Jeunesse Library.”
Alongside got here the IEM Rio 2023 Grand Last. Heroic vs Vitality – two groups with no connection to the native followers. To their credit score, they really confirmed up, creating a tremendous ambiance for some wonderful Counter-Strike. There’s maybe nonetheless a method to go, nevertheless it was a far cry from a few of the unfair criticisms launched on the Brazilian crowd all through the event.
It was good to see the Rio crowd get some redemption proper on the loss of life, and hopefully, it continues when aggressive CS:GO subsequent returns to Rio de Janeiro.
A Promising NAVI Future
IEM Rio 2023 saw further signs of a NAVI resurgence. It wasn’t an ideal run for the crew, who had been dismantled by Heroic within the Semi-Finals, nevertheless it’s one other deep run that the crew can take loads of positives away from.
The most important signal of promise is electroNic’s kind within the IGL function. Ever since he took over within the Boombl4 function, he hasn’t seemed fairly the identical participant. In Rio, issues had been completely different, and his numbers seemed as robust as ever. It’s an enormous if – however if he can stick with it, NAVI would possibly simply be again.
One other downside space for NAVI has been npl, however at IEM Rio 2023 he once more confirmed everybody he can actually dangle with Tier-1 gamers. He’s not the completed product but, however what 17-year-old participant is? He finishes the event with extra nice expertise in entrance of an enormous crowd, in addition to some nice highlights for his personal private reel. We’ll be watching his progress with nice curiosity within the coming months.
