Who Won the Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne?

The Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne is one of the biggest CS:GO tournaments of 2022! This S-Tier event featured all of the most famous teams, including FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, and Team Liquid. The event took place from the 5th of July to the 17th of July. This S-tier tournament featured a huge $1 million prize pool.

Which Teams Competed at the Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne?

Only the most elite teams competed at the Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne. The tournament featured 24 world-class squads, including:

●       FaZe Clan

●       Natus Vincere

●       Astralis

●       Movistar Riders

●       MOUZ

●       Team Liquid

●       Ninjas in Pyjamas

●       FURIA Esports

●       FURIA Esports

●       Team Vitality

●       G2 Esports

●       Cloud9

●       Team Spirit

●       Heroic

●       ENCE

●       00 Nation

●       Outsiders

●       Sprout

●       BIG

●       Imperial Esports

●       TYLOO

●       paiN Gaming

●       Complexity Gaming

●       ORDER

●       MIBR

As you can see, all of the big names came out for this big tournament. The pre-event favorites were FaZe and Natus Vincere. FaZe has been in amazing form recently, and Natus Vincere has been one of the very best CS:GO teams since they started competing.

What Was the Prize Pool?

The Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne was no small tournament. This event had a $1 million prize pool making it one of the most elite events on the planet. Throughout the tournament specialized sites recorded an incredibly large number of fans who watched CS GO live matches. First place was $400,000, second place was $180,000, and 3rd place was $80,000. Could you imagine winning $400,000 for winning a CS:GO tournament? The growth in the prize pools over the years is insane. It won’t be long until there is a CS:GO tournament with a $1 million first prize.

What Happened in The Group Stages at the Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne?

The teams were split into two groups, each containing 8 teams. The group stage was played as a double-elimination event, with the top three teams advancing to the playoffs.

In Group A, expectedly, Natus Vincere cruised to the finals and booked their spot in the playoffs. They had no issues swiftly defeating MOUZ, Ninjas in Pajamas, and Movistar Riders. Movistar Riders gave Natus Vincere their biggest challenge, and they secured the number 2 playoff spot. MOUZ also managed to make it to the playoffs after battling back in the loser’s bracket.

In Group B, FaZe Clan looked unstoppable as they didn’t lose a single game. They crushed 00 Nation, Team Spirit, and Astralis all 2-0. They never looked uncomfortable. Astralis and Team Liquid both qualified for the playoffs, but they didn’t look strong enough to beat Natus Vincere or FaZe Clan.

What Happened in Playoffs at the Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne?

The playoffs at the Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII - Cologne started with two quarterfinal matches with Astralis taking on MOUZ and Movistar Riders battling against Team Liquid. Astralis and MOUZ had a back-and-forth contest, but Astralis showed their class and won 2-1. Movistar Riders also kept up their strong form from the group stage and beat Team Liquid 2-1.

Waiting for Astralis in the semi-finals was Natus Vincere. Astralis never stood a chance against the Ukrainian team and were swiftly defeated 2-0. In the other semi-final, FaZe Clan continued their undefeated streak and smashed Movistar Riders 2-0.

This set up an epic final between Natus Vincere and FaZe Clan, a rematch of the PGL Major Antwerp 2022. Every CS:GO fan needs to watch this best of 5 series. The incredibly exciting series came down to the wire. Ultimately FaZe Clan prevailed and won 3-2.

FaZe Clan has had an incredible 2022! They won the Intel Extreme Masters XVII - Cologne, GL Major Antwerp 2022, ESL Pro League Season 15, and the Intel Extreme Masters Masters XVI - Katowice for a total of $1.9 million. Their squad looks unbeatable, and Natus Vincere will have to make some adjustments if they want to challenge them.