“Moments written by masters, witnessed by millions, and what a place to relive it all here in the cathedral of Counter-Strike.”
G2 Esports won IEM Cologne after a spectacular performance in the Grand Finals over ENCE. This makes them the third team ever to win both IEM Katowice and Cologne in the same year. It also marks the first Cologne victory for NiKo, who despite being one of the best players has never won at the Cathedral. IEM Cologne 2023 was also the final time the Lanxess Arena would host CS:GO. Counter-Strike 2 is set to release later this year.
As a mark of respect and remembrance for the beautiful game that has enthralled much of the esports community for well over a decade, the Lanxess Arena took a moment of silence on the penultimate day.
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Celebrating CS:GO at IEM Cologne
Right before the semifinals match between Astralis and G2, the Lanxess Arena went dark. With fans turning on the torch and lights from their mobile phones, the sight was one to behold. Thousands of small light points tore through the darkness, even as the host OJ Borg stood along on the stage.
“Time to take a moment Cologne,” stage host OJ Borg said to the crowd. “A moment of silent contemplation. As we finish another sentence, we turn another page in this… this most magnificent book.
“Moments written by masters, witnessed by millions, and what a place to relive it all here in the cathedral of Counter-Strike.”
The organizers also played a video that highlighted some of the most epic plays at IEM Cologne over the years. From the Molotov defuse at Cologne 2014 to SK Gaming’s victories, there were many moments to celebrate for the thousands of fans at Lanxess Arena.
IEM Cologne has been a staple of the CS:GO esports circuit over the past several years. The best teams in the world compete and struggle to appear in front of the famed Lanxess Arena crowd. And with this being the final year for CS:GO, emotions ran high.
Earlier this year, Valve announced Counter-Strike 2 would release in Summer 2023. The new game comes with improved graphics, responsive smokes, a new sub tick-rate system, and more.
The game’s beta has been out for some time now, with Valve regularly providing updates and letting new players in. The next Counter-Strike Major will take place on Counter-Strike 2 and so will most of the tier 1 events scheduled for 2024.
Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest CS:GO news and updates.
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