NaVi convincingly take down MOUZ, reach IEM Cologne 2024 Finals

NaVi have qualified for the Grand Finals of IEM Cologne 2024 after eliminating the #2 team in the ESL World Rankings, MOUZ.

The match was a bout between the #1 and #2 ranked teams in the world according to the ESL Ranking. NaVi and MOUZ have both taken the world #1 spot in 2024 at different times, with a myriad of caveats attached to each.

While Navi's group stage run placed them straight into the semi-finals, MOUZ had to go through G2 in the quarter-finals - which turned out to be an absolutely incredible match to watch.

Below you can find all the information about the match, include picks and key moments in NaVi's 2-0 win over MOUZ.

NaVi's inferno has been Chekhov's gun in their tournament runs. Any opponent they face, knows it's there on the wall, but when NaVi will bring it out is up in the air. This time though MOUZ chose to get ahead of it and bring it out as a punish pick. Perhaps they believed, like many analysts, that it was a paper tiger that could be slayed. Whatever be the case, the NaVi CT-side was quite a shock to MOUZ.

Right off the bat, NaVi converted the pistol round win with jL looking sharp on the B-defence. A single gun-round went the way of MOUZ, before NaVi came out swinging. Round after round, the B-hold was tested, and Aleksib stood tall. Eventually MOUZ managed to crack open the site, thanks to a great opening from torzsi, but that only gave them 3 rounds in the half.

Once play resumed, b1t was on the attack, clicking three heads to end the round before MOUZ even got started. Two mega frags from torzsi's five-seven denied NaVi the B-wrap and forced b1t to save in the second round. Now it was B1ad3's men on the force buy, while MOUZ hunkered down.

NaVi nearly brought back a lost round, but xertioN's plant denial put MOUZ in control of the half. Just like the Aleksi-jL hold for NaVi, MOUZ's xertioN-led defence had set up shop on B. That started off a streak of 5 rounds in a row for the young squad. A b1t triple finally cracked the code, pushing NaVi to map point, but an incredible siuhy clutch, gave his side the momentum for Overtime.

OT started off with Aleksib finally taking onus of the T-side, not only calling a B-take but acting as its spearhead. Brollan and torzsi combined on B, to tie the score back up as the teams remained neck and neck.

For the first time in this map, MOUZ led on the scoreboard. But now NaVi was back on CT. Instantly, they found their footing, and it was the Aleksib-jL duo once more to lock in match point. Everyone on NaVi popped off as they snatched MOUZ's pick 16-14 to start off the IEM Cologne 2024 Semi-Finals.

Both teams have held the Mirage title at various points in the year, and MOUZ started off with a great CT hold that accounted for 4 rounds in a row. jL managed to drag NaVi through to a single round win, but MOUZ annihilated them in the subsequent round. Every single opening duel was going the way of MOUZ.

jL was the only hero NaVi could rely on, as the Lithuanian took a second round with a clutch. But MOUZ were now up to 7 rounds, running away with the half. Finally a double entry from b1t, and a w0nderful clutch gave NaVi a fighting chance with a 4-8 half.

b1t and pistol rounds, MOUZ were determined to make that an iconic duo in this match. This time the Ukrainian headhunter snatched three in palace to take away MOUZ's momentum. CT sides were the name of the game, and NaVi brought the game to a one round difference with theirs.

xertioN was an absolute beast on the entries, bringing MOUZ two more rounds. But luck was favoring NaVi as b1t found two kills on short, starting from just a USP-S. If any round was going to break MOUZ down, it would be that one. But they were showing their newfound tenacity as they immediately answered with their 11th round win.

MOUZ tactics and tenacity, meet NaVi fragging, jL took another incredible round to set NaVi up to tie the game up. 11-11, after iM's mid-sneak left NaVi in a 2v3, it was Aleksib with just 4 frags to his name stuck in the clutch. But the IGL made it count, to lock in match point with a 1v2. Jimpphat nearly found the crucial round, but it was Aleksib again to send MOUZ packing from Cologne, as NaVi locked in another Grand Finals in 2024.

After that incredible win over MOUZ, NaVi will take on Vitality in the Grand Finals of IEM Cologne 2024.

The two teams have an incredible history of matches thanks to the s1mple-ZywOo duality of 2019-2023. Vitality usually have the better firepower, NaVi take the tactical cake, but who will lift Counter-Strike's most important trophies at the Cathedral tomorrow?

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