G2 Esports managed to surpass the second-longest map win streak in CS:GO eSports to win the 2023 IEM Katowice title. In the best-of-five grand finals, G2 eSports faced Heroic and amassed a 19-map winning streak.
G2 surpassed Natus Vincere’s 2021 run after claiming Nuke and Mirage. The 3-1 win over Heroic secured the first S-tier event of the year. Nevertheless, they fell short of the record for the longest map win streak by Ninjas in Pyjamas, with 87 map wins consecutively between 2012 and 2013.
G2 showed why they topped HLTV rankings by winning a second consecutive trophy and by dominating their biggest rivals, Heroic. Heroic could only win Inferno after losing their map picks of Mirage and Ancient.
The Danes stopped NAVI’s map streak, and it was interesting to see them halt the Europeans’ map win streak by winning Inferno.
G2 won the BLAST Premier World Finals 2022 in December, going 12 series wins on a stretch while also winning their second title in months.
The biggest winner at the tournament was G2 star rifler NiKo, who won his first title at Katowice in four finals. He had previously played in three grand finals in 2017, 2018, and 2022.
On the other hand, Justin “jks” Savage became the first player to win the IEM Katowice titles back-to-back under different organizations, having won it with FaZe Clan last year, albeit as a stand-in.
Meanwhile, G2 will battle MAD Lions in the LEC Winter playoffs qualification match after beating BDS and Astralis, respectively.
G2 will have to be very careful of Chasy, and Nisqy played K’sante and Azir, who all helped MAD Lions through their games.
The 2023 LEC Winter Playoffs series will start on Monday, 20 February, and run till Sunday, 26 February.
Daniel Ademiju Idowu
