The IEM Katowice 2023 tournament has come to an end, and the world of CS:GO has seen the latest addition of G2 Esports to the Hall of Champions in Katowice, as they managed to lift the coveted trophy last Sunday.
But with the tournament now over, the question on everyone's mind is: which teams should we be keeping an eye on in the coming months? In this article, we will be looking at the teams’ performance at the tournament and examine what we can expect from them in the future.
Two Clear Favorites
G2 Esports and Heroic were the standout performers at IEM Katowice, firmly establishing themselves as the strongest teams in the competition. Their impressive displays of skill and teamwork earned them the top two spots on the HLTV world ranking, with G2 holding the number one position and Heroic coming in at a close second.
CS:GO fans can expect to see more exciting performances from these two teams in future tournaments, including the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 17 starting on February 22. According to https://ggbet24.com/en, G2 Esports are currently favored to win the tournament, with odds of +4, while Heroic is not far behind at 6.5. In the following sections, we will explore what made G2 Esports and Heroic so successful at IEM Katowice.
G2 Esports
The European organization managed to show the flawless run and two consecutive tournament wins. Their success began at the BLAST Premier: World Finals in Dec. 2022, and since then, they have achieved 12 series wins without any setbacks.
The recent victory at IEM Katowice is a significant achievement for some of G2's performers as well. As such, their star rifler, Nikola "NiKo" Kovač, had previously played in three Grand Finals in the same arena but lost all three. Additionally, Justin "jks" Savage became the only player in history to secure back-to-back IEM Katowice titles under different squads, winning last year's event with FaZe, which helped him secure a permanent spot on G2 Esports.
Heroic
Despite losing 3-1 to G2 Esports in the IEM Katowice 2023 championship match, Heroic should certainly be in your list among other squads to follow in 2023. Although they've suffered defeats in the past, the team's well-rounded roster and strong teamwork make them a formidable opponent.
With recent wins, including the BLAST Autumn Finals, the Norwegian organization has shown their potential for success. However, they'll need to avoid developing a pattern of losing championship matches if they want to establish themselves as a dominant force in the competitive scene. With EPL Season 17 just around the corner, Heroic will have the opportunity to showcase their skills and strive for greatness.
Four Strong Contenders
Besides G2 Esports and Heroic, several other teams are worth watching out for, including Team Liquid, Team Vitality, NaVi, and Outsiders. Let's take a closer look at the current form and standing of each of these teams.
Team Liquid
Team Liquid’s rise to the third spot in the world rankings is a testament to their consistent performances and dedication to improving their gameplay. Led by NAF, the team has been a force to be reckoned with in recent tournaments. Their impressive showing in IEM Katowice 2023, where they finished in the top four, only adds to their growing reputation as a team to look out for.
NaVi
Natus Vincere is facing a challenging situation due to s1mple's dominance and their difficulties in meeting expectations. After a 2-0 loss to Heroic at IEM Katowice, Oleksandr made a passionate statement on stage, accusing some of his teammates of being "too scared to play".
To turn things around, the team must concentrate on improving their players and regard themselves as a developing unit. As they gear up for EPL S17, Natus Vincere must quickly move on to prevent any persistent problems.
Team Vitality and Outsiders
These two CIS powerhouses had a decent showing in the tournament, but struggled with securing kills. Their strategic abilities remained sharp, however, allowing them to adapt to unfavorable situations.
Outsiders put up a strong performance in the group stages, but couldn't beat the top team in the playoffs. Vitality has a solid roster, but needs to iron out some issues to compete with the best.
Other Teams to Follow
Finally, there are a few other squads that also deserve some attention this year. These include:
- IHC Esports (that single-handedly put SEA on the map)
- Complexity (that had a stellar group stage performance)
- OG (that seem to be adapting to their new roster quite well)
Out of these teams, Complexity is particularly worth highlighting as they have broken into the top 10 of HLTV rankings, which is a significant achievement for a team that has been working hard to establish themselves as a serious contender. Fans of Complexity can look forward to even more exciting performances as the squad continues to build on their recent success.
