NAVI are the champions of IEM Cologne 2021!
The trophy is in s1mple and co. hands after they managed to defeat G2 in the Grand final of the event.
Natus Vincere are the champions of IEM Cologne 2021 following a clean 3-0 victory over G2 on Dust2 (16-11), Mirage (16-14), and Nuke (16-13) to claim the first international LAN title of 2021.
Even though the match ended 3-0, it wasn’t all easy work for NAVI. The Russian squad were clearly the strongest team on Dust2, but Mirage and Nuke were highly-contested affairs that easily could have gone G2’s way if the margins had been on their side.
MVP: Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev – 1.37 Rating – 82.3 ADR – 75-49 K/D – 79.1% KAST
The action started on NAVI’s map pick of Dust2, where the Ukrainian beast stole the show completely. Not only did s1mple break the record for the most ACE’s at a big event, but also dropped a 30-bomb, 1.11 KPR, and a 1.80 Rating to help his team draw the first blood to the series. NAVI took an early lead on 6-2 before G2 found their footing and lowered their deficit to only one round right before halftime. A good and stabilized CT-side from NAVI made it hard for G2 to get rounds on the board and the Russian squad went on to close out the map 16-11 with confidence.
Next up was Mirage, G2’s map pick, which turned into an intense fight. G2’s NiKo answered back with his own 30-bomb, but unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to help his team tie up the series. NAVI denied the French-Balkan squad to force OT in the very end as they closed out the map 16-14, putting only one map between them and the title.
NAVI wrapped up the series 3-0 on their own map pick of Nuke, closing it out 16-13 to finish off their impressive tournament run and take home the trophy. The Russian squad also takes home $400.000 in prize earnings, while G2 leaves the tournament with $180.000 in second place right before the player break.
Dust2: 16-11 | s1mple – 1.80 Rating – 108.3 ADR – 30-15 K/D
Mirage: 16-14 | NiKo – 1.49 Rating – 106.0 ADR – 31-20 K/D
Nuke: 16-13 | NiKo – 1.19 Rating – 84.9 ADR – 23-20 K/D