The IEM Dallas 2023 Grand Last is lastly upon us, after per week of continuous CS:GO. We’ve had upsets galore, and it’s solely proper that ENCE and MOUZ get to face off for his or her first ever S-Tier trophies.
The MOUZ Story
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You’ll be able to’t kill this MOUZ. Credit score: Helena Kristiansson | © ESL
What a story this has been for MOUZ. They weren’t precisely excessive on our IEM Dallas 2023 energy rankings, however now they’re within the Grand Last and verging on one thing particular.
After their abysmal efficiency within the BLAST.television Paris Main 2023, you’d be forgiven for considering this iteration of MOUZ was carried out and dusted. A group going by way of the motions earlier than inevitable roster adjustments. How improper we had been. This was a MOUZ energetic, led by IGL dexter with a career-best efficiency. In a sea of Danish IGLs, it’s been the Aussie that has stood out up to now. He was merely outstanding, and appears nailed on for event MVP.
They needed to qualify for the IEM Dallas 2023 Playoffs the arduous approach, by way of the Decrease Bracket, beating FURIA and OG with out dropping a single map.
Then, the Playoffs, the place they confronted a resurgent Astralis with their new-look roster. Certain, MOUZ gave Astralis their possibilities, however in the end it was one other 2:0 win the place they by no means seemed below risk of defeat.
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No huge stage choke for MOUZ. Credit score: Helena Kristiansson | © ESL
A Semi-Last conflict towards Heroic awaited. The Danes had been those that condemned MOUZ to the Decrease Bracket in Group A, and had been odds-on favorites to repeat the feat within the Playoffs. Nonetheless, it appears Heroic’s chokes on the massive stage have began to take an actual psychological toll on the group. They by no means actually received going, as MOUZ took the collection 2:1. IEM Dallas 2023 Grand Last secured.
Now, MOUZ stand on the verge of historical past. Even throughout karrigan’s period as IGL, the group has by no means received an S-Tier event. Now, they simply must beat ENCE to recover from the road. That received’t be a straightforward job, with ENCE occurring a Cinderella run of their very own. Each groups have a lot to struggle for on the massive stage.
Simple Work For ENCE
![](https://www.esports.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ENCEDallas2023.jpg)
Credit score: IEM on Twitter
The runners-up of IEM Dallas 2022, ENCE are again for extra this yr. Final yr, solely Cloud9 stood of their approach. This time, it’s MOUZ who can forestall their date with future. However ENCE had been one other group that confirmed loads of resilience all through the event, and are in with an amazing shot of victory within the IEM Dallas 2023 Grand Last.
Their Group Stage run was plain crusing. Complexity provided little or no problem within the opener, with ENCE securing a 16:7 victory. It was a promising signal of excellent issues to return. Like MOUZ, they’d suffered a horrible BLAST.television Paris Main 2023 run, however this was the start of an excellent bounceback. FaZe had been subsequent to fall in a 2:0 clear sweep. Playoffs had been secured.
They then confronted Astralis for a Semi-Last berth. At occasions this recreation was Astralis’ to lose, however they couldn’t shut it. Take nothing away from ENCE, although. When alternatives come up, they nonetheless must take them. And grasp them they did, confirming a Semi-Finals spot towards FaZe.
And so we come to it. That Semi-Last. The primary two maps had been nice enjoyable, however when all’s stated and carried out, we’ll possible have a look at that third map on Historical as one among greatest CS:GO matches ever performed. By the point we’d reached the 59th spherical in OT5, each groups had been virtually enjoying deathmatch on the server. It felt like it might by no means finish, with the final match on LAN to go that lengthy Astralis vs NRG at StarLadder Main Berlin all the way in which again in 2019.
![IEM Dallas 2023 Grand Final](https://www.esports.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/ENCEDallas-1-1.jpg)
Credit score: IEM on Twitter
In the long run, the distinction ended up being FaZe’s karrigan dropping simply 22 kills throughout 59 rounds. It’s an unwinnable kill tally. However we have to talk about ENCE’s psychological energy right here. In OT4, FaZe took a 3-round lead, but ENCE introduced it again with ease. In NertZ and SunPayus, they’d two gamers comparatively new to the Tier 1 scene. Did they crumble below stress because the rounds piled on? Completely not – they thrived below it, leading to a outstanding 31:28 scoreline on the end.
With such a recreation performed out, it’s merely unthinkable that ENCE won’t win the IEM Dallas 2023 Grand Last. However we mustn’t neglect MOUZ, who’ve offered moments of high quality all through. To present a prediction, we predict ENCE will do it. It’s simply powerful to think about another situation after this.