In case you missed it over the weekend, we hosted our second annual Thunderpick World Championship in Berlin and the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) action couldn’t have been better. We witnessed one incredible play after the next, culminating in an intense showdown between The MongolZ and HEROIC (the two teams we predicted would likely face off in the end).
While there was no shortage of mesmerizing frags, we’re looking back at the event to highlight the top 10 moments, including s1mple’s return to CS2 and The MongolZ’s dominance!
Top Moments of the Thunderpick World Championship
s1mple Returns To CS2
This year’s TWC marked the return of CS2 stalwart s1mple as a stand-in for Team Falcons’ SunPayus. The on-loan NAVI star faced an aggressive 3DMAX side, going kill-less for six rounds on Anubis and ending with only 6 frags while Lucky stole the show.
Despite Falcons’ early struggles, s1mple eventually came alive on Nuke. He notched a 27-16 KD and showed flashes of brilliance, including a 1v2 clutch. Though Falcons fell 0-2 to 3DMAX, s1mple’s presence alone drew nearly a quarter of a million viewers—a testament to his unparalleled influence in CS2!
Maka’s Stunning 1v3 Ace Clutch
After being steamrolled 10-2 by The MongolZ in the first half, 3DMAX clawed back with a beautiful ace from Maka on Anubis in Round 13. Maka started by downing bLitz with a pistol, followed by a clean shot on Senzu with the help of Djoko. He then took out 910, Techno4K, and Mzinho in a 1v3 clutch to secure the ace.
Despite this performance, 3DMAX eventually lost the map 13-6, with bLitz leading a strong T-side defense and Mzinho scooping up 25 kills. Fortunately, Maka managed to spill some blood by racking up 16 kills. Djoko and Lucky trailed closely behind with 13 and 12 frags each, helping the team inflict 7870 total damage.
NertZ Wipes OG With Ace
NertZ (2.37 rating) delivered a masterclass performance for HEROIC against OG on Dust II in the semifinals, finishing with 30 kills and 144 ADR in a series of spectacular plays. His highlight moment was a jaw-dropping ace clutch, where he held his ground and picked off every OG player to secure the round.
TeSeS (1.33 rating) also did well on the map, contributing 16 kills and offering solid site control. Together, the deadly duo enabled HEROIC to dominate and close out the map 13-8. Overall, NertZ’s explosive reflexes were exemplary, inspiring confidence in HEROIC’s ability to perform in the upcoming Shanghai Major 2024 RMR.
.@NertzCS WITH THE ACE! pic.twitter.com/8HAFayIlNd
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 2, 2024
Degster Hits Collateral On Ancient
On Ancient, degster made his mark with a sharp 21-kill performance that steered HEROIC to a 13-11 win over OG in the next semifinal map. With the scoreline closely matched at 10-9, degster gunned down MoDa before he lined up a flawless collateral with the AWP, eliminating Chr1zN and M1key in a single shot.
Degster’s precision and control managed to keep OG at bay, particularly during clutch defensive holds, where his 90 ADR and key multi-kills showcased his skill. With TeSeS adding firepower, degster’s contributions were pivotal and helped to send HEROIC to the final showdown.
Maka Stuns With Wild 3K AWP
The deciding match between 3DMAX and OG was fierce, with both teams delivering many moments of pure heart-pounding action. A major highlight came on Ancient, where Maka clinched another 3K. This time, it was with the AWP, which he used to tear through OG’s T-side as he took down MoDo, M1key, and Chr1zN before being bested by Buzz in Round 11.
Maka was electric throughout the map, tallying 22 kills and helping 3DMAX to lead 7-5 in the first half. Despite OG’s resurgence in Round 19, Maka and Djoko fought back with a series of clutch plays to close the map 13-10. They carried the momentum into Nuke (13-6) to secure third place at the Thunderpick World Championship 2024.
.@Makazin_ with an insane 3k on the AWP! pic.twitter.com/X5ou37cMFt
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 3, 2024
Senzu Secures Solo 3K On B
The MongolZ’s semi-final game against 3DMAX saw mind-blowing performances from Mzinho (2.13 rating), whose unstoppable 25-13 KD and 146 ADR on Anubis set the tone for victory. His early defensive plays gave The MongolZ a strong 10-2 lead, barely allowing 3DMAX to breathe before closing the map 13-6.
Meanwhile, on Ancient, bLitz (20-11 KD and 106 ADR) and Senzu led the charge. Senzu secured a solo 3K on B site to break 3DMAX’s hold and bLitz followed up with a double kill to seal the map 13-9. This victory sent The MongolZ to face off against HEROIC in the grand final.
Kyxsan’s Clutch 4K Shifts Momentum
After falling to The MongolZ on Dust II, HEROIC found their footing on Ancient, closing the map with a decisive 13-6 victory. Degster led the charge with 21 kills—six with the AWP—and the highest ADR at 108.9. TeSeS (1.62 rating) matched his intensity, scooping up 20 kills and 108.7 ADR.
Adding to the pressure, HEROIC’s IGL kyxsan also managed to pull off a cheeky 4K at the start of the second half. Initially taking down bLitz with a pistol headshot, kyxsan went on to gun down Techno4K and Senzu right before clutching a final 1v1 against 910. Regardless, it was a stiff but riveting match from both sides.
.@kyxsancs shows his team how to lead with this 4k to start the second half! pic.twitter.com/xxY4xOa3MN
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 3, 2024
Degster Lands Electric Transfer
Despite dropping Anubis, HEROIC put up a good fight. They snatched 11 rounds in a hard-fought battle, adapting to The MongolZ’s neverending pressure. Nertz (1.28 rating) stood out with 19 kills and 6 assists, while degster (1.03 rating) added extra kills to the tally by orchestrating a stunning 3K spraydown in Round 5.
Armed with an M4A4, degster sliced through Mzinho and then effortlessly flicked to drop Techno4K and Senzu—two of them clean headshots! Though clearly worn down and struggling to secure site control, HEROIC proved they still had the spark by pulling off unreal moments that kept us on the edge.
The transfer from @degsterof is BEAUTIFUL! pic.twitter.com/uROfmngyLW
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 3, 2024
Mzinho Snags 4K Spray
Mzinho was instrumental in The MongolZ’s victory on Anubis. While the map was tightly contested, the Mongolian superstar clinched 20 kills, including a stunning 4K spraydown that absolutely shattered HEROIC’s defenses! This play helped swing momentum to The MongolZ, ending the map 13-11.
With the score tied 1-1 (Dust II: 13-8, Ancient: 6-13), Anubis offered The MongolZ the motivation needed to dominate Mirage. This was where a master class T-side performance led to a commanding 13-2 win, with The MongolZ clinching the Thunderpick World Championship 2024 title—and the $500,000 cash prize.
This spray from @Mzinhocs!😱 pic.twitter.com/uutlAHu2kO
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 3, 2024
Mongolian Fans Light Up Berlin
Last but not least, the Mongolian crowd at the LVL Dome Arena in Berlin brought unforgettable energy to the Thunderpick World Championship 2024. Many fans traveled long distances to support The MongolZ, filling the arena with an electric atmosphere that was thick with excitement!
With Mongolian flags waving high and impassioned cheers echoing at every clutch play, the crowd set a new standard for esports audiences. Their unwavering support didn’t go unnoticed, and it gave The MongolZ an extra push as they claimed their second LAN trophy of 2024.
Every esport needs a crowd like the MongolZ fans, this is amazing
— Jake Lucky (@JakeSucky) November 2, 2024
Here at Thunderpick World Championship #ThunderpickWC #ThunderpickPartner pic.twitter.com/KzYEPwXL6s
Here’s To Next Year!
And that is officially a wrap on this year’s Thunderpick World Championship. We’re still riding high on the tournament’s grand final, especially after seeing the unbelievable reaction from fans both in-person and all over the world. As we look ahead to 2025, we’re eager to see what the new year brings in the world of CS2.
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