by In a thrilling showdown, FaZe Clan secured their second Counter-Strike 2 title by triumphing over Virtus.pro in the Thunderpick World Championship 2023.
The match featured the champions of two major CS2 events, but it was FaZe who emerged victorious on Ancient with a score of 13-10 and pulled off a remarkable comeback on Vertigo, winning 19-17 after trailing 1-8.
This victory marked FaZe’s eleventh consecutive series win following their triumph at IEM Sydney 2023.
It was a remarkable achievement for the team, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the roster, including rumours of Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken’s imminent move to Team Liquid and the acquisition of FaZe Clan by GameSquare, the parent company of Complexity.
FaZe’s in-game leader, Finn “karrigan” Andersen, praised his team’s adaptability and versatility as key factors in their success.
The contrasting styles of play between the two teams were a topic of discussion before the final, with FaZe bringing controlled chaos against Virtus.pro’s methodical approach.
However, FaZe’s adaptability proved decisive on the CS2 stage.
The online format of the event may have favoured Virtus.pro, the Roobet Cup champions, but FaZe showcased their resilience and skill with clutch plays, comebacks, and critical decisions during crucial moments, reminiscent of their performance in big live events.
The match began with FaZe’s pick of Ancient, where they initially struggled but managed to turn the tide in their favour with two low-economy round wins and a strong second-half performance.
In contrast, Virtus.pro maintained a slow and steady pace, but FaZe’s quality ultimately prevailed, resulting in a 13-10 victory.
Vertigo, an unexpected map choice by FaZe, saw them fall behind 1-8 early on.
However, FaZe showcased their resilience and turned the game around with impressive retakes and strategic plays.
karrigan’s aggressive moves disrupted Virtus.pro’s calculated approach, culminating in a pivotal round where he secured a triple kill.
The match remained intense and went into two overtimes, marked by retakes and low-probability round wins.
Robin “ropz” Kool’s aggressive CT play played a significant role in FaZe’s victory.
As the match progressed, FaZe embraced the chaos and demonstrated their clutch abilities, reminiscent of their peak in 2022, securing the map and claiming the $250,000 first prize.
ropz emerged as the clear MVP of the finals, with an outstanding performance across both maps.
He finished with 52 kills, only 35 deaths, and an impressive 1.49 HLTV rating.
FaZe will now seek their third CS2 title as they make their way to China to compete in the CS2 Asia Championships, where they are the heavy favourites with most esports betting sites.
.@FaZeEsports ARE YOUR THUNDERPICK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 2023 CHAMPIONS! ??
?? @karriganCSGO
?? @FaZe_rainCS
?? @Twistzz
?? @ropz
?? @broky
?? @neo_fkubski#ThunderpickWC pic.twitter.com/GNzpNzNiXZ— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 5, 2023
