Outsiders are the IEM Rio Major Champions

Outsiders beat the Danish team Heroic 2-0 to complete their underdog run and become the IEM Rio Major Champions.

The Russian team Outsider trounced Heroic in the grand finals to win the IEM Rio Major title, along with a whopping $500,000 in prize money and a guaranteed seat at both the BLAST Premier Final in 2022 and IEM Katowice in 2023. With most of the top-ranked teams ultimately failing to perform early in the tournament, the unexpected final against Outsiders and Heroic was played in front of some of the most dedicated CS:GO fans in the world.

Although Outsiders faced fierce opponents during its journey to the championship, many fans and analysts claimed Outsiders’ success was merely a matter of luck. The Russian team, however, displayed a phenomenal performance during the finals, proving to everyone that their success is a result of the IGL’s smart decision, their riflers’ fragging abilities, and the flawless synergy between all of the team members.

Outsiders are the new kings of CS:GO 

Heroic had a little moral advantage going into the match since the Danes had eliminated higher caliber competition in their run to the championship match, most notably Team Liquid and crowd favorite FURIA. On the other hand, MOUZ was the only top-10 ranked team that Outsiders faced during the event, and easily they defeated the European team. The final between the two European teams was full of action and excitement, as the noise at the Riocentro was nonstop throughout.

Outsiders had a strong start in the best-of-three matchup, winning the opening map Mirage with a 16-12 score in a map that was tighter than the score indicates. Heroic continued to have trouble finding gaps on Overpass, as they were down 12-3 at the break. While the Danish team gave it their all to mount a comeback, it was too late as Outsiders already hopped Evgenii ‘FL1T’ Lebedev’s momentum train to clinch an easy 16-5 victory and their first Major title.

Despite entering IEM Rio as an underdog, Outsiders now rank among the world’s best teams with a crown of Rio Major champions on their heads. Dzhami “Jame” Ali, the captain of the Russian team, has been awarded as the competition’s MVP. After FURIA was ousted from the competition, Jame took the lead over the Brazillian team’s star performer Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato, who had been in the lead for the title before the semifinals. The 24-year-old was among the top players at the IEM Rio Major, with an average HLTV rating of 1.30 across the Legends Stage and Champions Stage.

Header: @luanportofoto