Ukrainian Esports Team NAVI Becomes Vice-Champion of Tournament in Cologne
The Ukrainian esports team Natus Vincere (NAVI) took second place at the IEM Cologne 2024 Counter-Strike 2 competition which took place in the German city of Cologne.
It is reported by Suspilne Sport.
In the final, the Ukrainians lost to the French team Vitality in the Best of 5 format (1:3 on maps).
Before the IEM, in July, Natus Vincere won the first ever Esports World Cup 2024. In the final, they defeated their rivals from Germany - G2 - in three maps (2:1).
The Ukrainian team started its journey at this tournament from the group stage. The group matches were played in the best-of-3 format. The three best teams in the quartets reached the playoffs. The team that took first place in the group went directly to the semi-finals of the competition, while the second and third place teams reached the quarterfinals.
NAVI finished the group stage with three wins: 2-0 over paiN (Brazil), 2-0 over Astralis (Denmark), and 2-1 over SAW (Portugal). In the Natus Vincere group, they lost only one Counter-Strike 2 map - Nuke. Thanks to three wins, the Ukrainian team took first place in the group and went straight to the semi-finals of IEM Cologne 2024.
One step before the final, MOUZ from Germany became the rival of Born to Win (Latin translation: Natus Vincere). In 2023, the German team had already defeated NAVI in the ESL Pro League Season 18 final. But this time, Natus Vincere went further. They won 2:0 (16:14 Inferno, 13:11 Mirage) and reached the final of the competition, where Vitality was waiting for them.
In the last three matches in the Best of 3 format, the French team beat NAVI. The last victory of the Ukrainian team dates back to November 2022, however, the winner was determined by a single card.