G2 Esports took home their third trophy of the year with a stunning 3-0 victory over Team Spirit at the Blast Premier World Final 2024, held in Singapore on October 23. This decisive win also secured G2 the top prize of US$500,000 from the US$1,000,000 prize pool. It was a groundbreaking event, marking the first time a major Counter-Strike (CS) tournament was hosted in Southeast Asia. Nearly 10,000 fans gathered at the Resorts World Convention Centre to witness the high-energy showdown.
G2's performance was spectacular. It overpowered Team Spirit on every map and took control of the series from the start. Team Spirit initially showed promise but couldn't overcome G2's aggressive style and well-coordinated tactics.
G2's powerful defence sets the tone for Mirage
On the first map, Mirage, Team Spirit grabbed an early lead, winning the initial two rounds and holding a 7-5 advantage by the halfway point. However, G2 turned the tables with a rock-solid Counter-Terrorist (CT) defence, stringing together eight consecutive round wins to claim the map 13-7. Spirit's attack faltered, unable to break through G2's structured defence, which capitalised on every opening. This early triumph gave G2 the needed momentum and set the tone for the rest of the series.
Moving to Spirit's chosen map, Anubis, G2's dominance grew. Though Spirit started competitively trading early rounds, G2 quickly found their rhythm and established control with an effective Terrorist (T) side, leading 7-5 at halftime. In the second half, G2 displayed an unbreakable defence, replicating their Mirage performance with another flawless CT side to finish 13-5. Spirit found no answers to G2's well-prepared plays, with Spirit's star AWPer, sh1ro, unable to make a significant impact throughout the game.
By the third map, Dust2 and G2 were firmly in control and rode their momentum to an explosive 6-1 lead on the T side. Key players huNter- and m0NESY delivered standout performances, with m0NESY mainly drawing cheers from the supportive Singapore crowd. Though Team Spirit's Donk showed resilience and challenged G2's NiKo in head-to-head battles, G2's overall coordination and firepower proved too much. They wrapped up the map and the series with a comfortable 13-7 victory, securing a clean sweep to claim the Blast Premier World Final title.
Stellar individual performances power G2's success
G2's win saw top performances from m0NESY and huNter-, each finishing with impressive ratings of 1.45 and 1.42, respectively, and a 52-kill tally across the three maps. These individual achievements reflected the teamwork and strategic play that drove G2's success. On the other hand, Spirit's star player, sh1ro, faced a challenging series, ending with a 0.77 rating, underscoring the difficulties Spirit had in penetrating G2's formidable setup.
The crowd's support also seemed to give G2 an extra boost, with fans in their corner throughout the match. In a post-match interview, Spirit's zont1x later acknowledged that G2's psychological edge, especially with the crowd behind them, added an extra layer of difficulty. The mental struggle proved significant for Spirit, who had faced G2 and found themselves outmatched.
G2's win signals strength ahead of the Shanghai Major
@hwztech G2 vs Team Spirit @ the Blast Premier World Grand Final, Singalore. Now! @BLAST TV #counterstrike #gaming #esports #pc #g2 #teamspirit ♬ original sound - HardwareZone
This dominant performance cements G2's place at the top of the CS scene and sets them up strongly for their upcoming campaign at the Shanghai Major. The team has shown resilience, especially after a disappointing run at the IEM Rio event, and seems to be back in peak form. While taking home a substantial consolation prize of US$250,000, Team Spirit will return with several tactical areas to improve, especially their T-side executions, which contributed only three rounds throughout the entire series.
G2's victory in Singapore adds a memorable chapter to their season, as the team looks forward to more success on the international stage.
