HEROIC have secured a spot in the grand final of the Thunderpick World Championship 2024 by defeating OG with a score of 2-0 in the semifinals held in Berlin, Germany. This semifinal clash attracted the attention of CS2 fans, as the team of Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski arrived at the LAN finals as the highest-ranked team in the tournament.

HEROIC enters this season with a streak of successful results on the LAN scene, including a semifinal in the IEM Rio and a second place at the Elisa Masters Espoo. Their participation in the championship in Berlin is an opportunity to gain form ahead of the Perfect World Shanghai Major RMRs, which start in two weeks. This approach keeps them competitive and allows them to showcase an aggressive and confident playstyle.

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Important Changes for OG Before the Tournament

Unlike HEROIC, OG approached the tournament with significant changes. After the team removed Bram "Nexius" Campana from the main lineup at the end of October, they invited Jakub "M1key" Krausko from UNiTY as a replacement. This change was part of the roster restructuring process, adding tension before the final stage of the tournament.

For OG, this tournament was the last chance to shine on the big stage in 2024. The team led by Maciej "F1KU" Miklas does not plan to participate in other LAN events after being knocked out of the Thunderpick World Championship, making this loss particularly painful for the team.

Drama on Dust2 and Ancient Maps

The semifinal series began with HEROIC’s choice — Dust2. Heroic started confidently on the attack, scoring 8-4, despite a prolonged technical pause that interrupted their winning streak. OG managed to win the second pistol round, but HEROIC immediately responded with a victory after a force-buy, regaining control of the game. A highlight on Dust2 was the performance of Guy "NertZ" Iluz, who ended with an impressive rating of 10.0, securing a 13-8 victory for his team.

Ancient, chosen by OG, offered more intrigue. OG initially took the lead with 5-2, but HEROIC quickly equalized before switching sides — 6-6. Despite a successful second pistol round by HEROIC, OG continued to resist in defense, maintaining tension right until the end. However, OG could not hold their positions, and HEROIC concluded the match with a 13-11 victory, completing the series 2-0.

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The Importance of HEROIC's Success

The semifinal victory emphasizes HEROIC's quest for stability ahead of the season's key events. Every successful LAN tournament solidifies their status and builds confidence ahead of more significant challenges, such as the upcoming Perfect World Shanghai Major RMRs. For OG, the tournament marks the end of 2024, which may herald the beginning of a new era of changes as the team prepares for the next season with a revamped lineup.