Astralis wins IEM Chicago 2018 CS:GO- Recap, Final Results and Placings
Astralis defeated Team Liquid in the Grand Final of CS:GO’s IEM Chicago 2018 to take home the $100,000 prize.
Team Liquid started off hot on their map choice, Mirage, taking a 9-6 lead into the break. Astralis would flip the tables, ending the second half on a 10-5 run to take Mirage by a score of 16-14.
NAF paced the North American side with 28 overall kills, while Astralis was backed by the play of Dupreeh’s AWP – who racked up 11 AWP elims on map 1.
The match shifted to Nuke and Astralis kept their second half momentum going.
A particularity impressive stretch happened in rounds 17, 18 and 19, where Astralis held Liquid to just three kills total.
Nitro stopped the bleeding with a nice 2K to help Liquid get a bomb off in round 21, bringing the score to 14-7 before Astralis quickly took the next to rounds to claim the map 16-7.
Astralis would wrap up the Grand Final quickly to win the $100,000 prize and further establish their claim of being the best team in CS:GO.
IEM Chicago 2018 Final Placings
| Placing | Team Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astralis | $100,000 |
| 2 | Team Liquid | $42,000 |
| 3-4 | FaZe | $20,000 |
| 3-4 | fnatic | $20,000 |
| 5-6 | mousesports | $10,000 |
| 5-6 | LDLC | $10,000 |
| 7-8 | NRG | $6,000 |
| 7-8 | Luminosity | $6,000 |
| 9-12 | eUnited | $5,000 |
| 9-12 | BIG | $5,000 |
| 9-12 | North | $5,000 |
| 9-12 | MIBR | $5,000 |
| 13-16 | Natus Vincere | $4,000 |
| 13-16 | MVP PK | $4,000 |
| 13-16 | Renegades | $4,000 |
| 13-16 | AVANGAR | $4,000 |