IEM Chengdu has now come to a close, leaving behind a trail of exhilarating matches, some surprising upsets and many memorable moments. Nearly a week has passed since the event concluded, giving Counter-Strike enthusiasts worldwide time to reflect. With that, here are our five key takeaways from IEM Chengdu.

FaZe are the benchmark

Since the Counter-Strike scene transitioned to CS2 at IEM Sydney back in October, FaZe have attended the final at every single top-level event barring the Roobet Cup, which they did not attend. While they were bested in the three most prestigious events: the BLAST World Final, Katowice and the Major, this level of consistency is unprecedented and it demonstrates how well Finn “karrigan” Andersen’s men have adjusted to the new game.

Whether it be with Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken or with David “frozen” Čerňanský, FaZe have managed to maintain a high level and with the organisation winning Season 4 of the Intel Grand Slam in the twilight of CS:GO, they look the most likely to win Season 5 of the esteemed award. Despite heavy hitters Spirit and Major winners Natus Vincere not being in attendance in China, FaZe beat everyone put in front of them, quickly dispatching MOUZ in the final 2-0.

Their fine form in Chengdu was thanks to stellar MVP-worthy performances from Helvijs “broky” Saukants and with ESL Pro League Season 19 on the horizon, FaZe look like the team to beat.

Jimpphat is hot property

Despite coming second in China, MOUZ have continued to progress with Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek at the helm. They haven’t missed a beat since adding Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin in place of FaZe-bound David “frozen” Čerňanský and their second-place finish in Chengdu after playoff appearances at both Katowice and the Major shows the strong development the international squad are going through.

A key reason for this is the form of young Fin Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo. The 17-year-old led the MVP race going into the final and made his anchor spots look like those of a star. MOUZ are a young squad, who seem to have issues in high-pressure arena matches, so we hope this team is given time to grow and mature together. But with bigger organisations struggling and MOUZ’s track record of selling their stars, it seems like interest in the youngster will be sky-high. MOUZ, however, will look to repeat their ESL Pro League Season 18 triumph in Season 19.

Newly formed rosters making progress

Both Astralis and Liquid made big roster moves in the winter off-season and so far both have been without success. This lack of results is proved by Astralis already making secondary changes, removing IGL Benjamin “blameF” Bremer to make way for Alexander “br0” Bro, which saw legendary AWPer Nicolai “device” Reedtz take up the IGL duties.

Both organisations missed out on the Major, so came into IEM Chengdu with extra practice and a point to prove. The two sides made the playoffs, with both losing out in close series against eventual winners FaZe. Astralis made it directly to the semi-final, following a swift 2-0 over FaZe thanks to a strong showing from Martin “stavn” Lund but the Danish side weren’t able to replicate that win on stage, showcasing issues the roster may have on the pressure is on.

Liquid were in the other group and Casper “cadiaN” Møller’s men managed to pick up wins over both Heroic and G2. They were bested by MOUZ, which meant they only received a quarter-final berth but it was a step forward compared to previous outings from the Dutch organisation. Canadian duo Keith “NAF” Markovic and Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken were the main men for Liquid and it is nice to see those two firing on all cylinders.

Liquid and Astralis are legendary organisations and they aren’t quite in the form of old, but it is nice to see them slowly improving, increasing the overall quality of the Counter-Strike scene.

Changes coming for FURIA and Cloud9

Following poor showings from FURIA and Cloud9 in China, both have made roster moves. FURIA have been in disarray for a long time and the Brazillian organisation have decided now is the time to make changes. After six years with the team, Andrei “arT” Piovezan has been moved to the bench with coach Nicholas “guerri” Nogueira also taking a step back.

It is unsure who will come in their place but the organisation’s co-owner has stated that a fully Brazilian project "will never win anything again" and that an “international coach is a priority”. It will be interesting to see what their roster looks like going into their first ESL Pro League match against Liquid at the end of the month.

Like FURIA, roster changes seemed imminent for Cloud9, as they have been without an AWPer since Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov departed for Spirit in December. However, it wasn’t expected that star rifler Denis “electroNic” Sharipov would be the one making way, who announced himself as a Virtus.pro player earlier this month. Cloud9 have withdrawn from ESL Pro League and therefore have a long time to make their decision to get back to fighting for titles once again.

Chinese crowd impresses

IEM Chengdu marked IEM’s return to China for the first time since 2019 and the crowd did not disappoint. Throughout the entire playoffs, the crowd was in full voice, creating a wonderful atmosphere inside the Wuliangye Chengdu Performing Arts Centre.

With the second CS2 Major being held in Shanghai later in the year, this event acts as a nice prelude. With Chengdu being a success, hopefully, the Shanghai Major will follow, paving the way for future events not only in China but other underrepresented regions in the Counter-Strike scene.