The controversy began when BLAST approved an emergency substitution for Astralis at the Fall Final, allowing their newly signed captain, Casper “?cadiaN?” M?ller, to replace Alexander “?br0?” Bro after the roster lock deadline.
Astralis claimed br0 was unfit to play due to a medical emergency, though br0’s agent publicly stated that the player was fully healthy and ready to compete.
As we represent @br0CSGO teams have reached out to me, regarding his health or medical condition, he is fully fine, obviously unfortunate he got benched. Nevertheless, Alex is fully healthy and ready to perform. So feel free to keep reaching out
— Fabian Broich (@SportsPsycFaBro) September 17, 2024
The decision has outraged several prominent players, including FaZe Clan’s Finn “?karrigan?” Andersen, Team Liquid’s Russel “?Twistzz?” Van Dulken, Team Vitality’s Dan “?apEX?” Madesclaire, and Falcons’ Marco “?Snappi?” Pfeiffer.
These IGLs, along with their teams, skipped the tournament’s media day in protest, with karrigan leading the charge by declaring, “I might be unfit for BLAST Media tomorrow,” a statement echoed by others.
Six out of eight teams followed suit, with only Astralis and Team Spirit’s IGL Leonid “?chopper?” Vishnyakov attending the event.
The protest stems from accusations that BLAST applied a double standard in allowing cadiaN to replace br0, whereas other teams have had similar requests denied in the past.
For example, in 2023, FaZe Clan’s request to replace H?vard “?rain?” Nygaard with Kristian “?k0nfig?” Wienecke was rejected, forcing FaZe to play with their coach instead.
Heroic faced a similar situation earlier in the year when they were denied a substitute for player Abdul “?degster?” Gasanov, who was unable to play due to visa issues.
The captains argue that if br0 was indeed unable to play, Astralis’ coach Danny “?ruggah?” S?rensen should have been the substitute, as per tournament rules.
The lack of transparency and perceived favouritism towards Astralis has fueled outrage among both players and fans.
Adding to the complexity is BLAST’s historical connection to Astralis, having shared ownership ties in the past, which raises concerns of a conflict of interest.
Though BLAST’s parent company, RFRSH Entertainment, divested from Astralis in 2019, the lingering ties still cast a shadow over such decisions.
In response to the controversy, the captains, led by karrigan, published an open letter criticising BLAST’s handling of the situation.
There are two things we as IGLs want to address when it comes to Blast’s decision regarding the allowance of Cadian to play for Astralis at Blast Fall Finals.
Firstly, integrity is at utmost importance. The roster lock rules are established for this very purpose. There have been 2 separate cases where coaches were forced to play for their respective teams: Heroic at Blast Fall Groups, and G2 at Blast Spring Finals. Emergency substitutes have previously been denied, and in this case, we believe that if br0 is in fact unfit to play, Astralis coach Ruggah would have to step in and play.
The results at Blast Fall Finals have a significant impact on the RMR Rankings, as well as a significant impact on the teams that are currently fighting for crucial points to qualify for Blast World Finals.
The second aspect we wish to address is our firm stance against the exploitation of mental health or physical health issues as a means to justify the allowance of an emergency substitute. We believe that such matters should never be taken lightly. In the event that a player faces an emergency in the future, it is essential to respect their privacy and extend our wishes for a speedy recovery to them.
We are not requesting evidence of br0’s situation, and we extend our best wishes and respect to him, if an emergency is indeed the case. As previously mentioned, rules are rules, and according to the precedent set by Blast stating that if no substitutes are added prior to the event, the coach would be the primary substitute.
Given the circumstances, we believe that Ruggah should serve as a substitute, and permitted to play, if he is in good health and fit to do so.
Finally, if Astralis were to receive a penalty or sanction, we advocate that any fine imposed should be going towards a mental health charity donation.
Sincerely,
karrigan, apex, snappi, aleksib, twistzz, snax, chopper
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For Dan “?apEX?” Madesclaire, the triumph marked the end of a ten-year chase for victory at this prestigious event.
After falling short in two previous finals, apEX finally lifted the silverware, a dream realised after a decade of close calls.
“Finally, after three Cologne finals, I’m leaving with the trophy,” apEX said after the match.
His excitement was well-earned, as the French captain delivered a masterful performance, both tactically and individually, in a series that will be remembered for its high-octane action and razor-thin margins.
#IEM COLOGNE HAS IT'S NEW CHAMPIONS.@TeamVitality take down @natusvincere 3-1 in the BO5 to lift the trophy in the Cathedral!
16-14 Nuke
10-13 Dust II
22-20 Mirage
13-9 Inferno pic.twitter.com/0a0HRgI8n1— Intel? Extreme Masters (@IEM) August 18, 2024
The grand final pitted two of the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 teams against each other in a best-of-five series that didn’t disappoint.
The first three maps were decided by the narrowest of margins, with Mirage, in particular, standing out as one of the year’s most thrilling games.
NaVi, fresh off their Esports World Cup victory, came close to bagging back-to-back trophies but fell just short in this epic contest.
Aleksi “?Aleksib?” Virolainen, NaVi’s in-game leader, once again found himself cursed in grand final series’, extending his record to 0-7 in best-of-five matches.
Meanwhile, Justinas “?jL?” Lekavicius, who had been a standout at the Copenhagen Major, struggled throughout the series, finishing at the bottom of the leaderboard, a far cry from his usual form.
The series began on Nuke, where NaVi’s leading MVP candidate, Valeriy “?b1t?” Vakhovskiy, had an uncharacteristically rough start, going 1-11 in the first half.
Despite a brief resurgence, NaVi couldn’t recover, and Vitality took the map 16–13.
On Dust2, NaVi bounced back, with b1t finding his form and leading his team to a narrow victory, but the story of the series was far from over.
Mirage proved to be the turning point.
Both teams were riding high on long win streaks on the map, and the match lived up to expectations, going all the way to a 22-20 triple overtime finish.
ZywOo was the hero for Vitality, delivering crucial plays in overtime that swung the map in his team’s favour.
By the time the series reached Inferno, the momentum was firmly with Vitality.
They dominated the early rounds and raced to a 10-2 lead.
Although NaVi showed resilience and mounted a late comeback, Vitality’s William “?mezii?” Merriman secured a crucial triple kill on the A site, sealing the series with a 13-9 victory and clinching the tournament title.
For apEX, this victory was especially sweet.
Having suffered heartbreak in Cologne twice before, once with EnVyUs in 2015 and again with Vitality in 2019, this was his third and final chance to capture the elusive title.
He didn’t disappoint, leading his team to glory and adding another prestigious trophy to his collection.
THE CHOSEN ONE CUT THROUGH EVERYTHING IN HIS WAY.@zywoo IS YOUR #IEM COLOGNE 2024 #ESLProTour DHL MVP
@DeutschePostDHL pic.twitter.com/GYH2XeCpvu
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) August 18, 2024
ZywOo also had a standout performance and was awarded with the Most Valuable Player award, finishing with 100 kills across the four maps, a staggering feat that solidified his claim as one of the best CS2 players.
The difference between him and NaVi’s young AWPer, Ihor “?w0nderful?” Zhdanov, was stark, with ZywOo’s experience and composure shining through in the most critical moments.
Despite their loss, NaVi can take solace in their successful 2024 campaign, which includes victories at the PGL Major Copenhagen and the Esports World Cup.
However, their struggles in best-of-five series remain a glaring issue, and Aleksib’s winless streak in such finals will undoubtedly be a point of concern moving forward.
As the dust settles on IEM Cologne 2024, both teams will shift their focus to the upcoming ESL Pro League season, which starts on September 3.
With neither team involved in the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown, they will have time to regroup and prepare for the next challenge.
In the end, this year’s IEM Cologne lived up to the event’s storied reputation.
The Cathedral of Counter-Strike once again delivered unforgettable moments, with Vitality and NaVi putting on a show that will be remembered for years to come.
From the knife’s-edge battles of the first three maps to the final triumph on Inferno, IEM Cologne 2024 was Counter-Strike at its finest.
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Counter-Strike 2 commentator Henry “HenryG” Greer lauded TheMongolz’s performance, acknowledging Mathieu “Maniac” Quiquerez’s statement that it wouldn’t be fair to solely attribute the victory to G2’s underperformance.
CONGRATULATIONS @1mongolz
They are the FIRST team from group B to be guaranteed a spot in the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/ofOAzR99BR
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 25, 2024
Indeed, while G2 struggled throughout the series, TheMongolz showcased exceptional skill and coordination.
G2 found themselves outclassed on both maps, managing only a minor resurgence on Anubis.
None of G2’s players managed a rating above 1, while every member of TheMongolz surpassed 1.25.
Notably, AWPer Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch stood out with a remarkable 1.51 rating, 37-16 KD, and 89.2 ADR, showcasing his prowess despite being overshadowed by his rifling teammates.
One highlight for G2 was a standout play from Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, whose quad-kill on the A site with a scout briefly sparked hope.
However, G2 failed to capitalize, and frustration mounted as TheMongolz maintained their dominance.
TheMongolz displayed composure in a relatively low-stakes match, with more challenges ahead in the upper bracket final.
Meanwhile, Team Vitality secured their playoff spot with a comfortable 2-0 (13-4, 13-9) victory over BetBoom Team, setting up a seeding match against TheMongolz.
Vitality’s resurgence, particularly the improved form of Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, was evident throughout the tournament.
The second team from group B to be confirmed for the #ESLProLeague Season 19 Playoffs is @TeamVitality!
Congratulations
pic.twitter.com/JhUTPubdLc
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) April 25, 2024
After a shaky start against Sharks, ZywOo’s stellar performances against BetBoom signaled his return to form.
Dan “apEX” Madesclaire credited Vitality’s success to strategic rest and preparation, highlighting the team’s dominance on Mirage and their proactive approach on Anubis.
As Vitality faces TheMongolz in the upper bracket, both teams aim for a spot in the quarterfinals, while BetBoom hopes to avoid elimination in the lower bracket against Falcons.
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