Over time, there may be one factor that has eluded NiKo in his Counter-Strike profession. Cologne and Katowice? Achieved. However the Main is CS’ best prize, and NiKo is arguably the most effective CS participant by no means so as to add one to his trophy assortment.
It’s a story that dominates each Main NiKo performs in. Is that this lastly the one? On the ELEAGUE Main Boston 2018, he was one spherical from glory towards underdogs Cloud9, and nonetheless couldn’t shut it out with six probabilities. At PGL Main Stockholm 2021, his G2 aspect was outclassed by NAVI within the Ultimate. These two failures on the last hurdle will hang-out NiKo for so long as there’s a evident hole in his trophy cupboard.
NiKo’s final Main last didn’t go to plan. Credit score: Luc Bouchon | PGL
NiKo’s Falcons transfer may jeopardize his Main hopes
Quickly to be 28 years previous and nearly a decade of aggressive play beneath his belt, NiKo’s shelf-life on the high is extraordinary. He’s proven no indicators of slowing down, but it surely’s well-publicized that NiKo is about to make the cash transfer to Falcons after the PW Shanghai Main 2024. Their run in Shanghai has been touted because the “final dance” for this roster, however I reckon it’d simply be NiKo’s final dance in the case of profitable a Main.
When he goes to Falcons, he joins a workforce with seemingly limitless sources. They’ll encompass NiKo with the most effective gamers on the best salaries in pursuit of victory. But, they did the identical factor in 2024, and the outcomes had been frankly embarrassing. Failure after failure, their high-profile gamers seemed a shadow of their former selves. Now, Falcons get to do it over again in 2025. A brand new rebuild with new gamers.
Credit score: Good World
Does this imply all Falcons gamers are in it for the cash? No. NiKo’s iteration of the workforce may work out, and I’ll be left right here wanting very foolish. However getting 5 gamers to hitch a workforce with some, let’s say, “fame points,” all within the title of profitable a Main whereas remaining as hungry as ever, is troublesome. Not not possible, but when 2024 has proven us something, it’s that it is going to be NiKo’s best problem but.
That is made much more troublesome by the brand new CS2 circuit all through 2025. Invitations for all Tier 1 tournaments will probably be made by means of the Valve Regional Standings. Falcons’ earlier roster at the moment sits at 45 in these rankings, and with solely Magisk staying, they’ll have to start out from the underside. NiKo, in 2025, grinding on-line CS2 tournaments for factors. It’s a loopy thought, however it is going to be the one manner this roster may be concerned in a Main subsequent yr, not to mention win one. That’s why we predict Shanghai 2024 might be his final shot at glory.
PW Shanghai Main 2024 is NiKo’s finest probability in years
Credit score: Good World
Check out the Playoffs Bracket for the PW Shanghai Main 2024. In case you’re G2 and NiKo, it’s type of the dream draw. On G2’s aspect, they need to beat Heroic. Then, they face both the winner of Vitality or FaZe Clan. For me, this matchup decides the complete occasion. It needs to be Vitality, however no matter which of the 2 progress, this G2 roster has persistently overwhelmed each of those groups. Vitality offers the most important menace, however G2 will most likely nonetheless go in as favorites, ought to they get there.
So let’s assume then that G2 do the onerous stuff, and win their aspect of the bracket. Who will they face within the Ultimate? I don’t assume it issues. The powerful video games are on their aspect of the bracket. All of The MongolZ, Liquid, and MOUZ are groups that, in present kind, G2 ought to beat handily. MOUZ may shock them, however their stage nerves proceed to be an issue. That simply leaves Spirit (and I think it is going to be Spirit).
Credit score: Good World
G2 beat Spirit again within the RMR, and completely dominated them within the BLAST World Ultimate 2024 Grand Ultimate. G2 has Spirit’s quantity, and there’s been no proof suggesting this has modified on the PW Shanghai Main 2024. In particular person duels, NiKo has been one of many solely gamers in a position to muzzle donk. It might take an out-of-character efficiency from Spirit to win that matchup, and certain one thing really particular from donk, too.
So, wanting on the bracket, G2 have all the pieces they should go all the best way. It’s NiKo’s finest probability to win a Main in years. With the clock ticking, we predict it’d simply be his final probability.
