IEM Dallas 2024: A Story Of A Great Comeback
Stewie2K has made a great return to the world of competitive CS. What was it like? Let's talk about it.
Brief Talk on Stewie's Career
Jacky "Stewie2K" Yip, who can be a called a true Counter-Strike legend, is known for his aggressive playstyle and clutch performances. He rose to fame with Cloud9, where he was crucial in their historic 2018 Boston Major win, the first (and so far the last) Major victory for a North American team. Jacky then joined SK Gaming, later MIBR, before moving to Team Liquid, where he helped secure numerous titles, including the Intel Grand Slam Season 2 back in late 2019. After a few unsuccessful years with Liquid, he moved to Evil Geniuses, where he also saw no luck. This ultimately led to the team's disband and EG's complete withdrawal from the competitive CS scene. After almost 5 years without a single trophy, he made a remarkable comeback with G2 Esports, leading them to victory at IEM Dallas 2024. How did he manage that? Let's dive into it!
Group Stage Struggles
G2 Esports faced a challenging start in the group stage, struggling to find any success whatsoever. Their initial matches were full of tactical missteps and individual mistakes, which initialy led them to a fast 0:2 lose to Vitality and almost cost them a map against Falcons, the team which keeps going down in HLTV rankings by losing almost 70% of their games. However, G2 began to shine as they progressed, making crucial adjustments to their strategies and, most importantly, their emotional connection. Both community and analysts are sure that Stewie had a huge impact on his teammates in this particular field.
Stewie's Impact
The inclusion of Stewie2K was trully a game-changer for G2. His experience and emotional leadership had a huge impact on both m0NESY and NiKo, turning them into actual beasts and eventually turning team’s fortunes around. Stewie2K’s ability to make quick decisions under pressure provided the stability G2 needed so bad. His performance in crucial matches, especially his clutches, were instrumental in securing key victories.
FaZe Run Over
One of the most notable moments of G2’s run was their quarter-final game against FaZe Clan. Despite being the obvious underdog, Stewie and company managed to secure an easy 2:0 win, finishing the enemy's map pick with a 13:2 score in their favor. Their coordination, communication, and individual brilliance were on such a high level that even FaZe members could do nothing about it.
Grand Final Victory
In the grand final, G2 faced Vitality, making the last game of the event even more interesting as both m0NESY and ZywOo were fighting not only for the trophy but also for the event's MVP title. We witnessed outstanding performances from both teams across all three maps of the final, but G2 ultimately managed to secure the victory. Each map showcased their insane adaptability, with standout plays from m0NESY, huNter-, and Stewie contributing to their triumph.
Stewie2K’s Statement
Stewie2K expressed massive excitement following his win at IEM Dallas, stating, "I’m back. I’m just shaking on the inside.” This statement looks trully promising, as his performance in Dallas has proven that he still has the skills and leadership qualities needed to compete at the highest level. Whether he stays with G2 or moves to a new team, the esports community will be watching closely.
