The Thunderpick World Championship (TWC) 2025 regional online series is underway, and fans have a Valve-sanctioned Closed Qualifier and a LAN finale to look forward to later this year. Yes, we are overflowing with hype! After all, the TWC 2024 was a resounding success, boasting unforgettable Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) esports action.
Join us on a trip down memory lane as we look back at the best five moments from the TWC 2024, the second edition of our annual event series.
5. NertZ Lights Up The Arena
At last year’s TWC, Israeli rifler Guy “NertZ” Iluz played for HEROIC and lit up the LVL Dome Arena in Berlin with his world-class performances. He was in good company, too, because his then-teammates René “TeSeS” Madsen and Abdul “degster” Gasanov topped the charts during the Group Stage and Quarterfinals.
But NertZ was straight-up showing off against OG. He notched a mind-boggling 1.82 player rating in the match as a result of 51 kills, 26 deaths, and an ADR of 115.6. His side may have lost in the Grand Final against The MongolZ, but NertZ topped the charts on the HEROIC side with a 1.14 player rating and 63 kills.
.@NertzCS WITH THE ACE! pic.twitter.com/8HAFayIlNd
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 2, 2024
In 2025, NertZ is playing for Team Liquid. Will he have the same impact at TWC 2025? We can’t wait to find out!
4. Maka’s Ace Clutch
Sometimes, the most impressive plays come when a team is on the back foot, pushed to the edge of defeat. That’s precisely when 3DMAX’s in-game leader, the French AWPer Bryan “Maka” Canda, stepped up to the plate. In the TWC 2024 Semifinals match, things didn’t go as planned for 3DMAX when The MongolZ took a commanding 10-2 lead in the first half.
After the teams switched sides, Maka led the charge in the Pistol Round on the CT side. He scored a 3v1 Ace Clutch on 21 health, hitting three headshots with his trusty USP.
3DMAX was unable to secure a comeback, but Maka showed how to lead by example. Despite the 2-0 loss, his team had immense determination. They scored a reverse-sweep against OG in the third-place decider match, where Maka again took charge with some beautiful plays. This included an amazing 3K with the AWP in a critical round on Ancient when 3DMAX was 0-1 behind in the series.
.@Makazin_ with an insane 3k on the AWP! pic.twitter.com/X5ou37cMFt
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 3, 2024
Now that’s how you perform under pressure!
3. The Incredible, Passionate Fans
Following a thrilling Group Stage and Quarterfinals with many live stream viewers, the final four teams competed on LAN at the LVL Dome Arena in Berlin, Germany. In the arena, the fans’ passion was overflowing and helped to create an unforgettable, bustling experience for everyone in attendance.
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
A special shout-out goes to the Mongolian fans who traveled roughly 3,700 miles to watch The MongolZ compete in the TWC 2024 Playoffs, showcasing their unwavering dedication. With the crowd cheering and Mongolian flags waving after every play, the atmosphere was absolutely electric. Feeling the passion and love for CS2 esports from everyone in attendance made this a TWC 2024 moment we’ll cherish forever
2. bLitz & Senzu Shine For The MongolZ
Leading the charge for TWC 2024 champions The MongolZ were IGL Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren and rifler Munkhbold “senzu” Azbayar. Both were instrumental to the Mongolian squad’s. bLitz showcased brilliant decision-making on the server while expertly clicking heads, and senzu wielded every weapon with precision.
As the IGL for The MongolZ, bLitz led by example throughout the tournament. With an ADR of 91.2 thanks to a whopping 100 kills compared to 79 deaths, he earned a 1.31 HLTV Player Rating in the Semifinal and Grand Final combined. The robust performance guaranteed bLitz the MVP award as he secured his place in the record books.
The MVP of The Thunderpick World Championship is @bLitz0626! Congratulations on games well played! pic.twitter.com/U65zVcUpkt
— Thunderpick (@thunderpickco) November 3, 2024
One of the most exciting moments of the Semifinal showcased both players’ temperament under pressure. Playing against 3DMAX, the MongolZ led by one map but were behind 8-7 on Ancient. That’s when senzu scored three kills on the B-site defense.
As senzu fell to the onslaught, bLitz stepped up to get the final two kills and tie the Round score on Ancient 8-8. This led to a 13-9 map win to secure the team’s spot in the Grand Final.
1. The MongolZ Reign Supreme
HEROIC and The MongolZ stepped into the high-tech booths to compete in the Grand Final as the crowd roared. It was the TWC 2024 moment everyone was waiting for, and the best-of-five slugfest didn’t disappoint. From our viewpoint, the entire Grand Final was one massive highlight filled with nail-biting action.
The MongolZ got off to a fantastic start with a 13-8 win on Dust II. HEROIC retaliated with a dominating 13-6 win on Ancient to tie the series 1-1. The third map, Anubis, was incredibly close, but The MongolZ showed their resilience to clinch a 13-11 win.
With momentum on their side, the Mongolian side didn’t give their opponents an inch on Mirage. They dealt a devastating 13-2 blow to HEROIC to win the TWC 2024 Grand Final with a 3-1 scoreline.
Instead of watching a couple of highlights, treat yourself to the full final day of the TWC 2024 below.
You can watch the third-place decider match between OG and 3DMAX first, or skip to the Grand Final. Enjoy!
Following their win, The MongolZ was propelled to the upper echelons of the HLTV World Ranking and the VRS. Since December 2024, the team hasn’t dropped below a top 10 ranking, and we’d like to think their win at the TWC 2024 gave the squad the confidence boost to soar to new heights.
Reliving The Magic Of TWC 2024
TWC 2024 gave us clutch plays, breakout stars, and an atmosphere that reminded everyone why CS2 is the king of the esports scene. Whether it was bLitz locking in his MVP moment or the Mongolian fans bringing unmatched energy, every second of the event felt electric. With TWC 2025 already heating up, there’s no better time to dive back into the highlights and get pumped for what’s coming next. Believe us when we say you don’t want to miss a single play.
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