G2 made a crucial step forward at IEM Cologne 2025, defeating Brazilian side FURIA 2-0 in the Group A upper bracket quarterfinal. The European roster took Dust2 and Inferno, showing that after some inconsistent results, they are finding their rhythm again.
Match storyline: control from start to finish
Dust2 (13:11 for G2)
FURIA picked Dust2 hoping to dictate their own pace, but G2 quickly seized the initiative. malbsMd and huNter- took control of the game, and the first half ended 9:3. Although the Brazilians closed the gap after the side switch, G2 held their nerve and closed out the map 13:11.
Inferno (13:8 for G2)
On their own pick, G2 looked even more dominant. HeavyGod and MATYS controlled the defense, leaving FURIA no room to execute their attacks. G2 calmly closed the map 13:8, sealing the series 2:0 and denying their opponents any chance to reach Mirage.
Player stats
G2: confidence returning
This victory was critical for G2 after recent ups and downs — only two wins in their last five matches (against Aurora and paiN, with losses to NAVI and The MongolZ raising concerns). Against FURIA, the team looked sharp and composed:
- Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa (33–27, 1.29 rating) was the driving force and deservedly earned the MVP title.
- huNter- (31–27, 1.14 rating) backed him up, helping to close crucial rounds.
- MATYS and HeavyGod provided stability in supporting roles, while SunPayus offered sniper control, even if without standout numbers.
FURIA: a good effort, but not enough
FURIA entered this match in decent form — three wins in their last five games (including Astralis and FlyQuest) — but today the team lacked discipline and confidence.
- yuurih (33–28, 1.12 rating) was the main driving force in their attacks, but his efforts weren’t enough.
- molody (31–25, 1.00 rating) tried to support, but other players, including FalleN and YEKINDAR, couldn’t deliver their usual impact.
Player of the Match
Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa earned the MVP award, finishing the series with 33–27 K/D and a 1.29 rating, but his contribution went far beyond the numbers. On Dust2, he opened key rounds with crucial entry kills, creating space for his team, and on Inferno, he stayed calm in clutches that crushed FURIA’s hopes.
malbsMd played aggressively yet with discipline, allowing G2 to keep their tempo and maintain control throughout the series. In several moments, his decisions changed the course of rounds: a swift push on the pistol, a smart trade on force buys, and confident play on retakes.
This was a match where malbsMd became more than just a fragger — he was the engine of G2, energizing the team and setting the tone for the entire series.
What’s next?
G2 advance to the upper bracket semifinals of IEM Cologne 2025, where tougher opposition awaits. They look like a team regaining their form and ready to fight for top honors.
FURIA, on the other hand, drop to the lower bracket — they’ll now have to battle for survival to stay in the tournament. Today’s loss showed that the Brazilians can produce flashes of brilliance, but against a team like G2, it simply wasn’t enough.
