After CSGO faded into oblivion, Counter-Strike 2 replaced it and its predecessor was quickly forgotten. This is logical and a normal course of events.
With the change in gameplay, Counter-Strike 2 also replaced the competitive scene, which is undoubtedly an integral part of the game and one of the factors of its great success. There are no professional CS:GO tournaments left, but this is by no means a reason to be disappointed, as all the top championships that we once loved in CSGO have moved to Counter-Strike 2.
So, this article will talk about one of these tournaments, the Intel Extreme Masters series championship, more specifically – IEM Dallas 2024, where the reigning world champions Natus Vincere and the updated Monte roster will also compete. This will be one of the most interesting tournaments of May-June, competing for attention with VCT Masters Shanghai – the hub of valorant betting this spring. We do not recommend missing it.
What is IEM Dallas 2024
Most competitive Counter-Strike fans are well aware of the IEM abbreviation. If you’re encountering it for the first time, it stands for Intel Extreme Masters – a series of tournaments held under the patronage of Intel, organized by the unchanging ESL.
Since the tournament is part of a series, it has its own features, such as ranking prizes with the opportunity to qualify for other events from ESL and beyond. Thus, teams will compete not only for cash prizes but also for rewards in the form of Blast points and IEM points, which could ultimately lead to winning gold bars worth $1,000,000.
IEM Dallas 2024 itself might not be considered a top-tier event, but the aforementioned virtues give it such a status. Add to this a ticket to IEM Cologne 2024 for the winner of IEM Dallas 2024, and you get a truly great and interesting tournament.
Moreover, there is something else that allows IEM Dallas 2024 to stand alongside VCT Masters Shanghai – the lineup of teams participating in the championship. It is truly powerful, and we will discuss it in more detail below.
Participant List for IEM Dallas 2024
IEM Dallas 2024 will feature 16 teams from around the world. As we mentioned earlier, they will compete for ESL and Blast ranking points, a ticket to IEM Cologne 2024, and $250,000.
The participant list for IEM Dallas 2024 is indeed impressive. The championship will include: BIG, Complexity, FaZe Clan, MOUZ, Natus Vincere, Vitality, M80, Team Spirit, Team Falcons, G2 Esports, Monte, Virtus.pro, HEROIC, Team Liquid, 9z Team, and FlyQuest. Essentially, the entire HLTV Top 10 has gathered, which is certainly pleasing.
The new season is gradually gaining momentum, so it’s not surprising to see such a lineup of teams participating in IEM Dallas 2024. Additionally, the ESL partner model allows BIG, Complexity, FaZe, MOUZ, NaVi, and Vitality to retain their spots in IEM series tournaments regardless of their performances. However, even without this, these six teams are still showing a high level of Counter-Strike 2 and will certainly not be out of place at this esports festival.
Finally, special attention at this tournament will be on Natus Vincere. The reigning (and first) world champions in Counter-Strike 2 will be in the spotlight thanks to their triumph at PGL Major Copenhagen 2024. Besides them, there will be other teams worth watching, and if we look beyond the big names, Monte is one to watch.
NaVi and Monte at IEM Dallas 2024: What to Expect?
As we mentioned above, Natus Vincere (NaVi) qualified for the tournament through the ESL partner system. However, these are the only privileges it provides, as they will start the championship on equal footing with other participants in IEM Dallas 2024, beginning from the group stage.
In the group stage, Natus Vincere landed in Group B. Their first opponent on the path to the playoffs will be the Germans from BIG, and truth be told, this won’t be a walk in the park. Despite NaVi’s historical advantage over BIG in matches, the German club can put up a fight, as demonstrated in the recent ESL Pro League Season 19.
So, NaVi remains the favorite and will likely defeat BIG. In the second round, if victorious, they will face the winner of the Team Spirit vs. FlyQuest match, which potentially means a clash with Team Spirit.
Regarding Monte, their situation is somewhat tougher. They ended up in Group A, with opponents like G2, MOUZ, and Vitality. The latter will be the first barrier for Monte on their way out of the group. The team has recently updated its roster and is unlikely to seriously compete with teams of Vitality’s caliber. Nevertheless, gaining experience is always beneficial.
Conclusions
IEM Dallas 2024 promises to be a truly exciting tournament with a large number of top-tier teams in the lineup. Both NaVi and Monte have the potential to shine, but it certainly won’t be easy.
IEM Dallas 2024 will be held in the American city of Dallas from May 27 to June 2, 2024. Sixteen teams from around the world will compete for $250,000, a ticket to IEM Cologne 2024, and ESL and Blast points.
