In the final match of IEM Cologne, which lasted more than six hours, FaZe defeated Natus Vincere in a bitter struggle. In order to determine the winner, the opponent had to play all five cards – Inferno, Overpass, Ancient, Mirage and Nuke – and the match was full of memorable moments performed by players from both teams.
On the first two maps, the strengths of the teams looked almost equal: first one or the other of them gained an advantage of one or two points. As a result, Inferno remained behind FaZe (16 - 13), and NAVI took the next map with the same difference in score. Ancient Natus Vincere managed to take the lead with a significant advantage: at some point the score was 15 – 5. However, then NAVI failed to take the decisive round for a long time, and it allowed FaZe to equalize the score and bring the matter to overtime. NAVI won this map, but only with a score of 19 – 16.
Mirage again remained behind FaZe, and with a more noticeable advantage in its favor (9 - 16). Thus, the fate of the match was decided on Nuke, and most of the time the teams were almost evenly matched. In the last rounds, FaZe managed to get ahead, and she won the map, and with it the whole match, with a minimal margin (14 – 16).
Thus, having taken first place at IEM Cologne, FaZe receives the main prize of 400 thousand dollars, and also regains its leading position in the world rankings. Second place in the tournament and a prize of 180 thousand go to Natus Vincere, and third and fourth places were shared by Movistar Riders and Astralis.
