IEM Cologne 2023
Thank you CSGO
As the dust begins to settle, and the virtual battleground begins to cool, an unforgettable spectacle unfolded. The last ever CSGO IEM, maybe even the last ever CSGO event just concluded!
Let us think back about not only our time in CSGO, but also our time on the LANs, and the servers offline and also online. Thank you for everything you have done for us CSGO. It might be the end of an era, but what a run it was.
Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the heart-stopping, awe-inspiring, International Esports Masters (IEM) Cologne 2023!
It is time to gaze upon the Cathedral of Counter-Strike one last time as CSGO.
We do not want to tell you everything that you already know. This is meant to give you a little album to look back at the last big CSGO event, a farewell to our beloved game and all the events before it.
Our next event might as well be already in Source 2 with all its new changes.
Read more about CS2 here.
This beautiful trophy was it that all the 16 teams were after. Not only for the price money but also for the glory to win and lift the last IEM trophy of CSGO’s lifespan!
This event was truly an amazing send-off to our beloved game.
Astralis ascended to the semi-finals
Pro players, Stage and Walk-in
But what would be an event without a banger crowd and the amazing people behind it?
The arena and its crowd were just not to describe. The mood was insane.
In the LANXESS arena are 20.000 seats. And the event has been SOLD OUT!
That is a lot of CS enthusiasts. The cheering, yelling, clapping, and even crying were infectious. It was a whirlwind of emotions. And all of this with quite a full arena.
The final
A truly amazing spectacle was the introduction of the final day.
The symphony of Counter-Strike.
A beautiful melody of gunfire and carnage filled the air.
The arena went silent to appreciate the work and the delightful orchestra music.
G2 Won!
After G2 won against Ence in the final of the IEM Cologne 2023, something quite historical happened.
Niko went to their coach and asked him to lift the trophy!
Never before has a coach lifted the trophy before the players themselves. This gesture was amazing and unexpected. The fans were yelling in awe and excitement for one of their own countrymen just lifted the IEM trophy.
After he lifted the trophy with his team, Swani said that this “is the dream of every German to stand here [on the stage] with this trophy, it also is your trophy, thank you for the support I love you all!”
Left to right jks, huNter, HooXi, Swani, OJ Borg and NiKo.
Jan 'Swani' Müller is the headcoach of G2. He joined the team in 2019 as an analyst and is immensely loved by the German CS community. Being a German himself and entirely invested in the German YouTube and Twitch community thanks to one of the biggest German CS influencers and his friend TrilluXe.
It was also the first time the coach started lifting the trophy, not the in-game leader or the team together.
We have captured this beautiful and historical moment.
Conclusion
We would like to thank Counter-Strike, and every major, IEM, Dream Hack and every LAN.
Here is what GamerPay members have to say about the passing of CSGO.
”It’s really odd to think that there will never be another csgo tournament of such calibre. In the halls of the cathedral, many memories from the game have been forged and I just sincerely hope that many more will be created as we all take CS2 into our arms with love and warmth...” - Morten
“CSGO is the perfect game for me, I always come back to it. I am sad that it has to go, but also excited to see it evolve. The move from CSS to CSGO had many people heated and angry. I hope CS2 will not have this kind of start. It will take time to perfect and develop, but this is why we are here, the loyal fans and CS-enjoyers. CSGO and its legacy will always remain.” - Thorben
CSGO was and always will be unique, and we can not wait to see how much CS2 events will differ from CSGO events. The story from CSGO might come to an end, but it is rich in history and great memories.
We are very excited to start a new chapter with the whole community!
Here is too many more LANs and CS2 events!
All the pictures were taken by our article writer and journalist Thorben*
