The IEM Cologne 2022 Final Still Stands as the Greatest in CS History

Three years have passed since July 17, 2022, when the world of Counter-Strike held its breath. In the legendary LANXESS Arena building in Cologne, one of the greatest and most classy matches in the history of the game unfolded — the IEM Cologne 2022 final match between FaZe Clan and NAVI. In a electrifying best-of-five contest, FaZe European roster overpowered the NAVI giant from Ukraine by a 3:2 score in a performance that became the gold standard for esports ever since.

Historical Context

Then NAVI and FaZe were unquestionably the two best teams in the world. NAVI, led by number one HLTV-ranked player and s1mple, the great one, were the reigning giant. FaZe Clan, on the other hand, were operating at an elite level — powered by karrigan's captaincy and the brilliance of ropz, Twistzz, and rain, who collectively were playing some of the best Counter-Strike of their careers.

It was more than just a clash of teams — it was a showdown between two philosophies of CS: NAVI’s refined structure and technical mastery versus FaZe’s aggression, creativity, and fluidity.

Match Breakdown

The best-of-five grand final featured multiple overtimes, clutches, and momentum swings that instantly etched it into the golden history of Counter-Strike. Each map told a story of its own — charged with emotion and phenomenal individual performances.

• Map 1: Inferno — FaZe win (13:16)

• Map 2: Overpass — NAVI strike back (16:13)

• Map 3: Ancient — Another win for NAVI in OT (19:16)

• Map 4: Mirage — FaZe mount a comeback (9:16)

• Map 5: Nuke — The final battle, where FaZe clinched victory with sheer grit (14:16)

The series lasted nearly five hours and kept fans on edge until the final round. Hundreds of thousands of viewers followed every grenade, every frag, and every clutch with bated breath.

Legacy

FaZe's win at IEM Cologne 2022 was the crowning moment of their dominance that season. For NAVI, the loss was painful yet honorable — they showed incredible form and contributed to one of the greatest matches in CS history.

This was to become known as the "El Clásico" of the CS:GO era — and perhaps the last true epic before CS2. It remains to this day a benchmark of greatness, drama, and spectacle in esports.

Even three years later, the showpieces are a recurring watch by the fans, players reminisce over the experience, and commentators draw parallel finals to Cologne 2022 as the standard. The FaZe vs NAVI showdown became more than just a match — it became part of Counter-Strike’s legacy.

Zeus at the Center of Scandal After Shanghai Major