IEM Dallas has found an unlikely champion in ENCE, with the international squad reaching a new peak in 2023.
After seven days of intense competition featuring many of the world’s top teams, ENCE has emerged victorious at IEM Dallas. The underdog victory included wins over Complexity, Astralis, and FaZe twice, culminating in a grand final against fellow dark horse MOUZ. ENCE won in two dominant maps, securing the IEM Dallas trophy, $100,000 in prize money, and a guaranteed trip to IEM Cologne starting July 5, 2023.
ENCE started off in the driver’s seat with an 11-4 half on Mirage, CT. MOUZ gained some momentum after the switch, but NertZ pulled the rug out with an ace ending in a 1v2 clutch on the B site. After a mild amount of back and forth, ENCE put a lid on game one 16-9, winning MOUZ’s own map pick.
Now on Nuke, MOUZ appeared to be returning the favor of winning on the enemy map pick with an early-round advantage. However, key eco plays from ENCE evened the scoreline and earned the advantage in round 17. Cautious T-side plays helped MOUZ stay alive, trading rounds up to 10-10. However, ENCE seized the initiative off a successful A hold, going up 13-10. ENCE rode that momentum to a championship, ending with a pincer maneuver outside to seal the deal.
By winning this event, ENCE has also secured a trip to one of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s final prestigious events in IEM Cologne 2023. Cologne, Germany, is one of the most iconic cities in Counter-Strike history, hosting more than a decade of competitive play. The only comparable location in Katowice, Poland, and the two IEM events are considered on par with the majors for many of CSGO’s elite.
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