G2 Esports crowned Champions of IEM Cologne 2023

IEM Cologne 2023 marks the end of another Intel Extreme Masters Counter-Strike: Global Offensive championship. The finals have concluded after a few weeks of battle, and we now have the winner.

After a hectic weekend of competition, G2 Esports held off ENCE, Team Vitality, and Astralis to win the match, take home $400,000 in prize money, and earn a spot in the IEM Katowice 2024. G2 has officially joined Team Vitality and Ence in the competition for the Intel Grand Slam V after this triumph.

And thus the CS:GO chapter ends for Cologne.

Here are the 9 champions that will remain a part of Counter-Strike history forever.

2014 @NIPCS
2015 @FNATIC
2016 @SKGaming
2017 @SKGaming
2018 @natusvincere
2019 @TeamLiquid
2021 @natusvincere
2022 @FaZeClan
2023 @G2esports pic.twitter.com/VrtpdmLRbV

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) August 6, 2023

Additionally, Nikola "NiKo" Kova of G2 emerged as the tournament's MVP, further solidifying G2's recent supremacy.

The Star player of G2, Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kovač commented: “This is the biggest trophy of my career – I’m super happy right now! It’s been a long journey to finally get this trophy but it wouldn’t be possible without this team and I’m so happy to have them by my side.

“I’m really proud of everyone, we kept it cool and calm throughout the whole series and it doesn’t feel real that we managed to win both [EPT Championship] tournaments in the same year. The experience and playing in the Lanxess Arena was amazing!” 

For CS:GO and G2 Esports, the Gamers8 2023 is scheduled for the next week, and then comes the ESL Pro League Season 18.