FaZe Clan defeated G2 Esports 3-0 Sunday in the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2022 grand final following an inspiring run through the play-in stage lower bracket. FaZe walk away with an impressive IEM Katowice victory after playing the entire tournament with Justin “jks” Savage, who initially subbed in for starter Robin “ropz” Kool and later Håvard “rain” Nygaard.
THE KINGS OF KATOWICE 🏆 pic.twitter.com/oHQJeyAcdQ
— FaZe Clan (@FaZeClan) February 27, 2022
The heated clash between FaZe and G2 in Katowice was a story of two Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams with very different paths to qualifying for the event’s biggest stage. If there wasn’t enough proof that this grand final is one to remember for FaZe, the series nearly broke records after going into overtime five times on the second map.
G2 Esports began in Group B of the tournament group stage and quickly fell to Fnatic 1-2 in the upper bracket. G2 clawed their way out of the losers’ bracket in groups to earn their spot in the playoffs, knocking out Team Liquid (2-0),. FURIA Esports (2-1) and Astralis (2-1) along the way. From there, G2 looked to be in good form after sweeping Virtus.pro (2-0) and Natus Vincere (2-0) in the playoffs to earn a spot in the grand finals.
With the starting lineup disrupted, FaZe had a long road to the finals after starting IEM Katowice 2022 in the play-in stage. After defeating Sprout in the round of 16 (16-12) and later MOUZ (2-1) in the play-in quarterfinals, FaZe steadily climbed through the upper bracket before getting knocked down to losers’ by Natus Vincere in the upper bracket final. Come playoffs, FaZe was able to breeze past Gambit Esports (2-0) and Heroic (2-0) to meet G2 in the grand final.
FaZe win IEM Katowice
Winning a grand final with a substitute player is no small feat. This win could ring in a new era for FaZe Clan ushered in by its impressive new core of ropz, Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken and Helvijs “broky” Saukants. Led by IGL Finn “karrigan” Andersen, this squad could shape out to be one of the strongest in CS:GO this year.
