The initial Counter-Strike 2 major of 2024 has been somewhat lackluster and mundane compared to past events. However, the atmosphere suddenly intensified as two protestors disrupted the event, storming the stage during the quarter-final match between MOUZ and G2.
In the chaos, one of the assailants toppled the prestigious trophy, which was placed in the center of the stage being shattering it into pieces, throwing the event into disarray during the middle of a crucial match.
During the match between MOUZ and G2, two fans rushed onto the stage. While on-site security promptly apprehended them, the trophy positioned at the center of the stage toppled over as they were being detained.
As the trophy fell from the podium, it shattered into multiple pieces, visible to the audience, who responded with boos as the two stage-rushers were detained.
The booing was audible on the live broadcast, prompting the casters to maintain focus on the match despite the on-stage chaos. However, when the pause was confirmed, one of the casters muttered “clowns” before the match was brought to a pause as the broadcast cut to a break that lasted well over thirty minutes.
The match came to a halt as the second half was set to began, with G2 holding a 7-5 lead as they transitioned to the T side of Vertigo, traditionally the less favorable side.
Despite MOUZ’s efforts to regain momentum after G2’s initial 5-0 lead, the extended pause disrupted the flow for all players. Although MOUZ managed to secure the crucial CT-side pistol round in the second half, it turned out to be their sole round win on Vertigo in the second half, as G2 seized control, winning the second round force buy and ultimately closing out the game with a decisive 13-6 scoreline.
G2’s six consecutive round wins propelled them to the semifinals, where they will face off against Natus Vincere.
CSGO Empire has come forward, claiming responsibility for the incident, with its owner, “Monarch” hyping up the “craziness” hours prior. They allege that G2’s sponsor, CSGORoll, is a fraudulent casino that deceives users and has been implicated in money laundering activities in the past. This assertion has fueled an ongoing feud between the two sites.
Accusations have been made against CSGORoll for its involvement in past money laundering incidents, exacerbating the ongoing tensions between the two sites. However, it’s worth noting the lucrative nature of third-party gambling sites.
Despite claims of “provably fair” odds, several notorious examples, such as Faze Clan’s “CSGO Wild” and TMarTn/ProSyndicate’s CSGO Lotto, have been exposed for rigging outcomes and featuring fake odds, highlighting the deceitful nature of these platforms.
Platforms like these are cancerous, particularly when they exploit underage users through gambling with in-game items as currency. I myself was once deeply immersed in gambling on competitive CSGO matches through platforms like CSGOLounge.
Unlike the deceitful practices of fake case battle unboxings, roulette, and other malicious activities employed by the likes of CSGO Empire, CSGO Roll, what CSGOLounge simply offered was the opportunity for minors to wager their virtual items on the outcomes of professional matches.
The irony of the entire incident, besides the fact that one gambling website is complaining about another gambling website being deceitful and fraudulent lies in the lengthy 30+ minute pause at the start of the second half, which may have disrupted what could have potentially been a map victory for MOUZ.
This result might have propelled the series towards the pivotal Overpass map, a terrain where MOUZ’s recent dominance (with an 80% win rate compared to the opponent’s 50%) would likely have provided them with an advantage.
In an ideal scenario where the match continued uninterrupted, MOUZ might have capitalized on Vertigo and potentially won the third and deciding map. Considering CSGO Empire’s strong opposition to G2’s sponsor, CSGO Roll, their disruptive stunt may have inadvertently handed G2 a free pass to the semifinals.
G2 experienced another stroke of luck to reach the playoff stage, staging a comeback after losing the first map against Virtus Pro to secure a 2-1 series victory. A critical factor in their success was Virtus Pro suffering a mid-game computer crash during a pivotal round.
At a tied score of 11-11, with both teams struggling economically, G2 faced a 4 versus 4 retake of the B bombsite on Inferno. The outcome of this round would have significantly impacted the following rounds, potentially leading to a map loss for the loser. Unfortunately for Virtus Pro, Jame’s computer crashed during this crucial round, allowing G2 to successfully retake the bombsite and ultimately win the map 13-11, followed by the subsequent map without incident.
CSGO Empire recently announced a competitive tournament with a $50,000 prize pool, featuring various lower-tier teams slated to compete in online matches from April 3rd to the 19th. The announcement serves as a dose of karma for the controversial gambling website, as several organizations have condemned CSGO Empire following their disruptive stunt at Counter-Strike’s premier event.
The coach of MOUZ NXT, one of the participating teams, took to Twitter, stating, “Yeah, ain’t gonna play this now.” Meanwhile, the CEO of the SINNERS organization, another listed participant for the online tournament, posted that CSGO Empire can go fuck themselves, and that they’re pulling out of the event.
The wave of dissent goes beyond just the teams; even one of the enlisted casters for the tournament, “Trav,” has courageously declared their immediate withdrawal. Joining them in solidarity, three other esteemed casters, Teo Siard, Cole “xner” McHenry, and Roope “Nexus” Väänänen, have also opted out of casting the event.
Furthermore, the Romanian squad of Nexus Gaming has asserted their stance by withdrawing from participation as well.
The future of the event remains uncertain, with questions lingering about the potential withdrawal of more teams and the overall status of the tournament. However, it seems unlikely that a platform like CSGO Empire is deeply troubled about becoming the subject of ridicule within the competitive CS2 community, especially considering their own financial gains from gambling activities.
