Aleksib's IEM Curse Has Finally Broken

As a long-time CS:GO fan, I can’t help but feel an immense sense of satisfaction seeing Aleksib finally break his grand final curse at IEM Rio 2024. For years, we’ve watched him and his teams come so close only to fall short, each time leaving us all wondering if he would ever get the chance to lift that trophy. But seventh time’s a charm, as they say!


In a remarkable turn of events at IEM Rio 2024, IGL Aleksib has led NAVI into a fresh chapter following their triumph over MOUZ. The team’s success was duly recognized with Justinas “jL” Lekavičius and Mihai “iM” Ivan earning the DHL MVP and HLTV MVP awards respectively. However, this victory held a particularly significant meaning for the in-game leader.

Since 2019, Aleksib has competed in six IEM Grand Finals as a member of ENCE, OG, G2, and NAVI. Unfortunately, each time, he and his teammates came up short at the final hurdle, preventing Aleksib from hoisting an IEM trophy. However, with perseverance, the in-game leader finally broke the curse and put an end to his losing streak on the IEM grand stage.

  • Read more: NAVI Shuts Down MOUZ to Win IEM Rio 2024

In a post following the game, Aleksib expressed that it was unique. He confessed he struggled to contain his feelings as he had recently lost someone dear. His advice: cherish your loved ones.

Aleksib’s past IEM tournaments had played out in the following ways:

  • 0:2 ENCE vs. Astralis – IEM Katowice ’19
  • 0:3 ENCE vs. Liquid – IEM Chicago ’19
  • 0:3 OG vs. Faze – IEM New York EU ’20
  • 0:3 OG vs. Gambit – IEM Summer ’21
  • 0:3 G2 vs. FaZe – IEM Katowice ’22
  • 1:3 NAVI vs. Vitality – IEM Cologne ’24

He never gave up 🤍🇫🇮

📸 @brcho_

— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) October 13, 2024

At IEM Rio 2024, NAVI made their sixth straight final appearance, securing a 3-1 victory over MOUZ to clinch the title. They pocketed the largest portion of the $250,000 prize money and qualified for the EPT Winter Championship 2025.

Feeling incredibly proud of us, our team victory was well-deserved despite the challenges we faced. Being down 10-2, we held onto the belief that we’d come out on top in this game. I can’t thank the crowd enough for their unwavering support. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will never forget.

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2024-10-14 12:43