Cloud9 defeat ENCE to become the Champions of IEM Dallas 2022!

The “onliners” of the ex-Gambit squad have finally won their long-overdue LAN event, fittingly in America. Cloud9 brushed ENCE aside 3-0 to become the champions of IEM Dallas 2022, bringing glory back to the NA region.

Of course, some might argue that “NA” is symbolized by North American players as opposed to an organization that North Americans run, but either way, it’s called raining on their parade. Let them enjoy this victory! It’s a win-win for everyone!

Except for FaZe Clan, perhaps. The Major champions were eliminated by the Russians in the Quarterfinals of IEM Dallas, a sight I never thought I’d see given the number of times the FaZe Clan veterans kicked the up-and-comers’ glass on LAN events. But the ex-Gambit youngsters really are learning and growing, building key experiences on their way.

The former Academy players are gelling together and winning titles; it’s a scary sight to see. CIS has really taken a hit after the war. It disbanded NaVi and forced the Russian core to join NA. What once was the greatest and the most feared now trembles beneath the covers of an irrational blood-stained sheet.

But let’s get back to Counter-Strike and talk about Cloud9’s iconic LAN win!

Mirage

Defense was the name of the game for Cloud9 all throughout the series. Their rock-solid defensive sides won them the match, and the tournament, in fact.

The match started great for ENCE, as they took an 8-2 CT-sided lead. hades was instrumental with his defensive AWP and posted 13 kills just in the first half. Cloud9 managed to salvage a 5-10 first half, giving them some room to work with.

Despite the expectations that Snappi will make their T side work, ENCE failed drastically in the second half. Cloud9 let them plant the bomb only 3 times in gun rounds, and one of them was a crazed, rushed A exec – the Snappi signature.

sh1ro’s individual brilliance was on show, and ENCE could only succumb to the hungry Russians, who won the map 16-12.

This grand final could still go either way ?@C9CSGO 1-0 @ENCE

Overpass is kicking off right nowhttps://t.co/855hMZUIST #IEM pic.twitter.com/a6i1Vg53c4

— Intel® Extreme Masters (@IEM) June 5, 2022

Overpass

Cloud9 started on their T side on Overpass, and boy wasn’t it one to salivate for. The calm execs, breaking down lines, and their overall control of the map were key to winning the first half 10-5. The cohesion of ENCE’s defense was too poor for a well-oiled machine like Cloud9. The difference in chemistry reared its ugly head for ENCE multiple times all throughout the match.

Though Cloud9 doesn’t have the greatest stats for Overpass in recent months, it still is one of the strongest maps in the history of this lineup. The openness of the map allows the fundamental-loving roster to take their gameplay to a higher level, and it really showed in the Grand Finals.

The fake Cloud9 pulled in Round 5 really puts on display how by-the-throat the NA/CIS roster had ENCE. It’s a round worth watching twice.

On the CT half, the ~eco win on Round 22 was basically the beginning of the end for ENCE. In classic Snappi style, they all rushed B, thinking that sh1ro will be doing his diligent saved AWP duties on A. But nafany was one step ahead and had placed sh1ro on B, anticipating the Snappi play.

.@C9CSGO take the round with a singular AWP and pistols ?#IEM pic.twitter.com/bKdve79hRg

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) June 5, 2022

Cloud9 went on to win the match 16-11, setting themselves up for almost an assured victory, since the next map was…

Ancient

Cloud9 had battered BIG 16-3 on Ancient in the Semifinals and had handed Team Liquid an equally humiliating loss of 16-5 back in the Group Stages. ENCE had looked scarily good themselves on the Aztec-inspired remake, posting an 84% win rate coming into the match.

Hell broke lose as sh1ro and nafany went on to post 2.0+ ratings as NA cheered one final time in Dallas, celebrating the glory that had embraced them once again.

It's been too long ?

For the very first time, @C9CSGO lifts the #IEM ? pic.twitter.com/q7ApsidRsb

— Cloud9 (@Cloud9) June 5, 2022

It was a flawless display of Counter-Strike from Cloud9. They won their defensive first half 12-3, exactly how they did against BIG. They topped that off by winning all 4 T side rounds to hand ENCE and Snax a harrowing loss for the ages.

The big apple in Snax was hungry for one final trophy, but it wasn’t meant to be as HObbit and co. were the clear fan favorites here in America.

With this win, HObbit really showed the youngsters the way. The online victories were stunning, but the young core of 4 truly became the torch bearers in Dallas. Soon it will be time for HObbit to hang up his gear and make way for another young up-and-comer that will kickstart another era of youth in Cloud9, but until then let’s enjoy this particular LAN victory for Cloud9.

Extremely proud of you ❤️@sh1rocsgo, @Ax1LeGOD, @HObbitcsgo, @nafanyGOD & @interz ?

— Gambit Esports (@GambitEsports) June 6, 2022

They have finally done it.