Heroic, have once again solidified their place as a dominant force in the world of esports by securing their spot in the prestigious IEM Katowice Grand Final. The Danish squad effortlessly overpowered Natus Vincere in a two-map series, clinching commanding wins of 16-8 on both Inferno and Mirage. This marks their second grand final appearance in just three months, following their triumphant victory at the BLAST Premier Fall Final in November.
The team’s success was largely due to the exceptional performance of Casper “cadiaN” Møller, who credited the close-knit bond of the squad as the key ingredient to their triumph. “We believe that camaraderie is a crucial piece to the puzzle of building a successful team, which is why we make sure to engage in a lot of social activities outside of playing,” Møller stated in a post-match interview. “You can see that it’s working, as our players are thriving and having a good time.”
The match between the two teams began on Natus Vincere’s map pick of Inferno, where Heroic had only a 38% win rate over the past three months. However, the Danish team overcame this disadvantage and made a remarkable comeback, securing a 5-1 lead on the CT-side despite an early deficit. Natus Vincere attempted to catch up with double kills from Denis “electroNic” Sharipov and Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy, but their efforts were to no avail, as the Danes took map one with a 16-8 victory.
The second map, Mirage, started with a B site shutdown from b1t and Ilya “Perfecto” Zalutskiy, Heroic quickly regained the upper hand, securing a 5-1 lead. Despite Natus Vincere’s attempts to grab the advantage with multiple opening picks, they were unable to convert them into round wins. The Danes pulled ahead in the later rounds, securing a one-sided first-half victory of 11-4.
In the second half, the Danish squad continued to apply pressure on Natus Vincere, reaching map and series point with well-timed flanks and gamble stacks. Despite the Ukrainians’ best efforts, they could not prevent Heroic from closing things out, securing a 16-8 victory on Mirage and the series win.
CadiaN and his teammates will now advance to the grand final in Poland, where they will face the winner of the Liquid vs G2 semi-final match on Sunday at 20:30. This marks an impressive achievement for the Danish team, who have consistently proven themselves as one of the top contenders in the world of CS:GO.
Heroic’s commanding performance against Natus Vincere serves as a testament to their teamwork and dedication to the game. With their second grand final appearance in three months, the Danish squad has firmly established themselves as a force to be reckoned with, leaving fans eagerly anticipating their showdown with the winner of Liquid vs G2 in the IEM Katowice Grand Final.
