With the IEM Katowice 2024 Group Stage concluding yesterday, all six teams are now locked in for the Playoffs. Spirit and MOUZ are already locked in with Semi-Finals slots, but who will be joining them?
To find out, we’re taking a look at the two matchups, G2 vs. FaZe Clan, and ENCE vs. Falcons, to see who we think will come out on top and progress from the IEM Katowice 2024 Quarter-Finals.
G2 vs. FaZe Clan
The big matchup of the IEM Katowice 2024 Quarter-Finals is surely tournament holders G2 vs. FaZe Clan, who lifted the trophy themselves back in 2022. Despite G2 being reigning champions, you have to give the edge to FaZe here. They’ve looked better all around throughout Katowice so far, with G2 mostly looking to m0NESY for success on the server. Meanwhile, FaZe’s firepower can come from anywhere, especially as frozen continues to settle into the roster. FaZe’s experience of winning CS2 tournaments in recent months should prove to be a difference maker.
Credit: Adela Sznajder | © ESL
What maps will we see when these two step onto the server? Both teams have had extremely mixed vetos throughout Katowice. G2’s addition of nexa has shuffled things around for the team, with them adding Overpass to their potential list of maps. We’ve not seen a G2 Inferno yet, due to every team insta-banning it against G2. FaZe won’t have any fears about an Inferno brawl. Based on the picks so far, we think the three maps will be Inferno, Nuke, and Anubis.
For the team that progresses out of FaZe vs. G2, MOUZ awaits in the Semi-Finals. This is still a MOUZ without much big stage experience, especially when compared to FaZe or G2. We fancy the winner of the Quarter-Final, whoever that may be, to go all the way to reach the Grand Final of IEM Katowice 2024.
ENCE vs. Falcons
ENCE vs. Falcons is a matchup most never expected to see in the Quarter Finals of IEM Katowice 2024, for several reasons. On paper, this ENCE roster is a total mismatch. Acquiring the Polish 9INE core joining ENCE alongside dycha and legendary IGL gla1ve was seen as a free pass to the Major RMR, but as it turns out, coach kuben has actually got them cooking on home turf. Now, they get to play with that home crowd buff on the big stage.
Meanwhile on the Falcons side, progress has been slow but steady. You can see them improving with every game, and we think their star power will push them over the edge. The narrative of the old ENCE core against the new one is certainly an interesting narrative, and one that will be interesting to watch play out.
Credit: Adela Sznajder | © ESL
For the map veto, it’ll all depend on who gets first removal. Both teams perma-ban Inferno straight off the bat, so whoever picks first will likely avoid it to ban another of their own weakest maps. If Falcons get to remove first, Vertigo is GONE. If ENCE remove first, Ancient will probably be banned. Because of this, we think there are two possible ways the veto will go. With Falcons removing a map first, the map pool should be Ancient, Anubis, and Nuke. If ENCE gets to remove first, we think we’re looking at a Vertigo, Anubis, and Nuke map pool.
The winner of ENCE vs. Falcons will progress to face Spirit in the Semi-Finals. With donk still in fearsome form, striking fear into every opponent, it’s going to take something special for either of these two teams to stop Spirit routing their way to the Grand Final.
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