If there was a fairytale end that was to be written for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 would be it. Two weeks of nothing but quality Counter-Strike at the highest level, with some drama, upsets, and surprises thrown into the mix. It was just perfect! Teams came to Paris with hopes and dreams of getting their hands on the last CS:GO Major Trophy. At the end, it was Vitality that walked home with the title, on their home ground.
CS:GO Paris Major 2023: Champions Stage - Day 4 - Grand Finals - dupreeh now has five major wins under his belt
In the Grand Finals of the tournament, we saw Vitality pitted against GamerLegion. While Vitality had been on a roll with the backing and support of the crowd and their org, the story of GamerLegion was slightly different. They had come into this match as the underdogs, having paved their way through three different stages of the tournament, handing upsets to some of the favourites to lift the trophy in Pairs.
They were my pick to be the surprise winners of the tournament. However, when the teams took to stage, the difference between the two top orgs in CS right now, at least by my standards, was clear. apEX’s calling on both Overpass (GamerLegion’s pick) and Nuke (Vitality’s pick) was on point. Vitality steered clear of any danger posed by GamerLegion and closed the series off 2-0. And, before GamerLegion could realise, apEX was celebrating his second Major win, durpeeh his fifth, and the rest of the squad, including ZywOo, their first. On paper, dupreeh is the most successful player in CS:GO history.
While the celebrations unfolded, everyone, including the fans and the players alike, thanked each other for such an amazing experience, not only in Paris but on the battlegrounds of Counter-Strike:Global Offensive. The last 10 years were insane. We saw some ups and downs, amazing plays during Majors, and some naughtiness by skin creators as well. But, at the end, our love for CS:GO kept growing. Now, as we open our doors to Counter-Strike 2, the successor to our favourite person’s favourite first-person shooter, let’s welcome this new game with open arms, and enjoy another 10 years of CS action!
To Watch the Match -
BLAST.tv Major GRAND FINAL - Vitality vs GamerLegion