If you hated the Paris Major, you’ll love the IEM Dallas playoffs.
All the old-school big names are here - Heroic made it, with G2 and FaZe, ENCE are more of a modern phenomenon, but MOUZ are super old school. There’s even a guest appearance from Astralis.
Just like the old days.
While there’s a bunch of weirdness with regard to rosters, these teams rose above that and actually showed up in the last big tournament before the player break.
Looking at you, Cloud9, Team Liquid, et al.
Today’s games start in the evening here in EU, so you’ve got time to get home from work or… wake up if you’re a real gamer. Kicking off with the impressive Astralis against the… well, better than Major-form MOUZ.
We don’t want to say they’ve been good - they’ve beaten a shoddy-looking FURIA and an OG-looking OG - but they haven’t been terrible. Astralis 2-0’d Cloud9 and beat Liquid in OT, which just gives us a bit more faith in them.
Even if they did lose to ENCE. Ignore that.
They look much better, though — Altekz isn’t the best player we’ve ever seen, but he’s pretty damn good at what he does. He’s a huge upgrade on Xyp9x, at least in 2023.
The winner of that game meets Heroic, while ENCE await G2 or FaZe. G2 are what they always are - wildly talented, quicksilver, and falling apart at the seams. They might still win the event, but it won’t be off the back of outthinking anyone.
FaZe, similarly, are the same team as ever. Dangerous, un-put-away-able, gifted, and intelligent. You wouldn’t bet against them winning, but you probably wouldn’t bet on it, either.
That game should be mental.
Dallas has been a strange event, but these playoffs should go OFF.
Never miss a thing! Get our recap of the biggest news and matches straight to your inbox, twice a week.
