My Dear SAW

Eia zezocas - o que é que é isto! It's time to talk about the absolute madness that SAW is bringing to IEM Cologne 2024. These Portuguese underdogs are tearing up the script and making a run that's nothing short of miraculous. Let's break it down, match by match.

The journey so far

Play-ins

• SAW 2-1 The MongolZ
  • A big of a shaky start, but SAW showed their resilience, bouncing back from a rough Ancient to close it out on Dust2.
• SAW 2-1 BIG
  • Stealing BIG's map pick? Check. Dominating on Ancient? Double-check.
  • The Inferno decider was a great map, with story clutching it out in the final round. Absolutely mental stuff.

Main event

• SAW 2-0 G2
  • Holy. Shit. This wasn't just an upset; it was a statement.
  • Nuke was a straight masterclass, and Inferno? An 8-round comeback to seal the deal. G2 didn't know what hit them.
    • Just kidding - nades hit them!

ESLCS - triple nade

Watch ESLCS’s clip titled “triple nade”

Twitch

• SAW 2-1 The MongolZ (Again)
  • Before The MongolZ beat Spirit I was kind of scared for SAW because I thought they would most likely be against Spirit - but that proved to be wrong and SAW face The MongolZ again!
  • A rematch that proved SAW's first win was no fluke.
  • Losing Ancient but bouncing back on Nuke and Anubis? That's the kind of mental fortitude champions are made of. Plus, The MongolZ almost posted a comeback in Anubis (the final map) but SAW stopped them in their tracks - promising stuff!

What makes this run special

1. SAW's coach, BERRY, has clearly done his homework. Their executes and anti-strats have been on point - hard work pays off big time.
2. The trio of story, ewjerkz, and arrozdoce are playing out of their minds. Who said you need a roster full of veterans?
3. Speaking of veterans, roman and MUTiRiS are providing the calm and experience this young squad needs.
4. From slow, methodical play to fast executes, SAW has shown they can adapt on the fly.

What's next?

SAW has secured a spot in the playoffs at the LANXESS Arena. Let that sink in. A team that many didn't even have on their radar is now playing in the CS Cathedral. They're set to face Na'Vi in the upper bracket semi-final, and honestly? At this point, I wouldn't bet against them.

The bigger picture

This run isn't just about SAW; it's about the growth of the CS scene in Portugal and beyond. It's proof that with hard work, smart play, and a bit of that underdog magic, any team can make waves on the big stage.

As arrozdoce said after their win against G2:

"People think we are a bad team. We are working our asses off and we are showing it."

And show it they have.

So, whether you're a die-hard SAW fan or just love a good Cinderella story, keep your eyes on these Portuguese powerhouses. They're not just here to participate; they're here to win.

Até a próxima, CS fans. The Cathedral awaits, and SAW is ready to make it sing.

As a fellow Portuguese myself, I am incredibly proud of these guys.
Never give up on your dreams.