OG’s ambition for a triumphant return in Counter-Strike 2 (CS@) in 2024 was dealt a severe blow. The revamped roster, filled with anticipation for a fresh start, encountered an unexpected hurdle at BLAST Premier against the formidable Vitality. The BLAST Premier Spring Groups saw OG make history of the wrong kind—they became the first team in 2024 to endure a crushing 13-0 defeat on LAN. The reigning Major champions, Vitality, exhibited dominance on Mirage, spearheaded by the 2023 MVP, ZywOo, who tallied an impressive 17 kills during the ruthless 13-0 thrashing.

The entire Vitality lineup showcased prowess, with four players securing double-digit kills, ultimately concluding the CS2 series with a 2-0 victory, finalizing the second match with a 13-7 scoreline on Inferno. While players like Bram “Nexius” Campana and Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko had commendable performances across both maps, the spotlight turned to German veteran Nils “k1to” Gruhne, who managed only a single kill on Mirage.

Adding to OG's challenges at BLAST Premier, Casper “ruggah” Due couldn't join the team due to family commitments, depriving them of their veteran coach for this critical offline appearance.

For OG, this disappointing start echoes the struggles of the past year when the team grappled with consistency, experiencing early exits in major offline tournaments. The departures of Mateusz “mantuu” Wilczewski in January and Nemanja “nexa” Isaković in February and November further destabilized the roster, leaving an enduring impact from their commendable run in 2022.

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On a positive note, OG displayed resilience in the qualifiers for the PGL Copenhagen Major EU RMR last week, securing a spot in the main qualifier after victories over JANO, 3DMAX, and Nexus Gaming. While not a flawless performance, OG stands just three series wins away from a coveted spot at the Copenhagen Major.