The IEM Rio 2024 kicked off with intense action and a shocking upset as Heroic toppled G2 Esports in their opening match. Held on October 7, this Best-of-One encounter on Dust 2 saw Heroic rise to the occasion, sending shockwaves through the Counter-Strike community by defeating the favorites, G2, with a 13-10 scoreline. While the result seems close on paper, the actual match was a tale of momentum swings, near-comebacks, and incredible individual performances.
Heroic started the match in explosive fashion, securing a 10-2 lead by halftime. Their aggressive gameplay and strategic coordination kept G2 on the defensive, allowing Heroic to dictate the pace of the game. TeSeS was the standout performer, dominating the map with 29 frags and a 1.83 rating, severely disrupting G2’s attempts to gain momentum.
For G2 Esports, the first half was challenging, managing to win only two rounds late in the half. Despite individual highlights from m0NESY and malbsMd, G2 found themselves consistently outplayed. Heroic’s relentless pressure made it difficult for G2 to establish any rhythm or map control in the first half.
g2 cooked with this timeout 🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/wpFUsoAy32
— HEROIC (@heroicgg) October 7, 2024
In the second half, G2 mounted a comeback, showing resilience on their T-side. They gradually closed the gap, bringing the score to 10-13, but ultimately fell short. m0NESY’s clutch plays and the team’s improved coordination allowed them to regain some control, but Heroic’s early lead proved too large to overcome.
TeSeS was undoubtedly the MVP of the match, his 29 kills and smart plays being pivotal in Heroic’s success. His consistent performance disrupted G2’s game plan and ensured that Heroic maintained their lead despite G2’s second-half resurgence.
G2's owner pic.twitter.com/0LBEwxDxAG
— HEROIC (@heroicgg) October 7, 2024
Meanwhile, on the B stream, Vitality secured a comfortable win against 9z, with Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut delivering the first ace of the tournament. Vitality’s strategic approach was too much for 9z to handle, helping them move confidently to the upper-bracket semi-finals.
Heroic’s victory over G2 sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting IEM Rio 2024 tournament. With their opening win, Heroic has established themselves as a serious contender, showing that they are more than capable of taking down top-tier teams.
