SunPayus Reflects on G2’s Early Exit from IEM Chengdu 2025: “A Tough Tournament, But There Were Positives”

SunPayus Reflects on G2’s Early Exit from IEM Chengdu 2025: “A Tough Tournament, But There Were Positives”

G2 Esports AWPer Álvaro “SunPayus” García has commented on his team’s early elimination from IEM Chengdu 2025, calling the event challenging but highlighting that G2 still took away valuable positives and are now shifting full focus to the upcoming Major.

In a post on X shared shortly after the elimination, SunPayus wrote that G2 were out of the tournament, describing it as “a tough one” with “some good moments.” He added that the lineup is now fully focused on preparing for the Major, ending his message with a simple “GG.”

How G2 Went Out of IEM Chengdu 2025

G2 Esports were knocked out in the Group B lower-bracket final by Team Vitality. The French-led side secured a 2–0 victory, winning 13–4 on Train and 13–11 on Mirage in a best-of-three series that decided the final playoff spot.

Before the elimination, G2’s run at Chengdu unfolded as follows:

Opening match: 2–0 win over 3DMAX in the Group B upper bracket.

Upper-bracket semifinal: 0–2 loss to FURIA, sending G2 down to the lower bracket.

Lower-bracket round 2: 2–1 win over Virtus.pro (19–17 Overpass, 9–13 Inferno, 13–1 Dust2), securing a top-eight finish.

Lower-bracket final: 0–2 loss to Vitality, which ended G2’s tournament in 7–8th place.

IEM Chengdu 2025 took place offline in Chengdu, China, from November 3–9. The S-tier CS2 event featured a $300,000 prize pool, alongside an additional $700,000 in club revenue share.

Playing Vitality with a Stand-In Coach

G2’s decisive match against Vitality was played under difficult circumstances. On the morning of the game, the organization announced that head coach Eetu “sAw” Saha would stand in for captain Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač due to a medical emergency.

Later, huNter- explained that he had felt unwell the previous day but played through the Virtus.pro series despite vomiting multiple times. After being taken to the hospital, doctors diagnosed him with a cold that affected his stomach, sinuses, and throat. He apologized to fans for not being able to help his team but emphasized that he trusted his teammates to perform.

HeavyGod: “Health Comes First”

G2 rifler Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko also addressed the team’s exit on X, calling the loss a valuable experience despite the tough conditions. He stated that the team gave its all but lost too many crucial duels, congratulated Vitality on their win, and sent a heartfelt message to huNter-, wishing him a quick recovery and stressing that “health comes first.”

Both HeavyGod and SunPayus framed the Chengdu result as an experience to learn from rather than a failure, expressing optimism about G2’s long-term trajectory.

How SunPayus and sAw Joined G2

SunPayus and sAw became part of G2’s CS2 project in mid-2025 after several months of reports and speculation.

In late May, HEROIC confirmed that their AWPer Álvaro “SunPayus” García and coach Eetu “sAw” Saha would transfer to G2 Esports following the BLAST.tv Austin Major, citing Valve’s conflict-of-interest rules as the reason for the early announcement.

During their time with HEROIC, the pair maintained consistent performances, capturing titles at the CCT Season 2 Global Finals and MESA Nomadic Masters Spring, and achieving playoff runs at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 and IEM Dallas.

In July, G2 officially unveiled their revamped roster, introducing SunPayus as the new sniper and sAw as head coach, alongside Matúš “MATYS” Šimko. The lineup currently features Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač, Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa, Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko, Álvaro “SunPayus” García, and Matúš “MATYS” Šimko, with sAw leading as head coach.

SunPayus has previously spoken about his respect for sAw, describing him as both “a great coach and a great person” who helps players improve. During the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025, he even joked that he wants to “stay by [sAw’s] side until he kicks me from his team.”

He also revealed that since leaving ENCE, he has been working hard on his mindset — learning to stay calm under pressure, focus on the present, and enjoy the game while striving for constant improvement.

IEM Chengdu’s Place in G2’s Rebuild – and the Road Ahead

IEM Chengdu 2025 was one of the first major tests for G2’s overhauled lineup. The team showed flashes of strong form, including a dominant Dust2 against Virtus.pro and a clean win over 3DMAX, but also exposed weaknesses in consistency and closing out rounds against top-tier opponents like FURIA and Vitality.

Despite falling short of playoffs, the team’s performance reflected progress in adapting to its new structure. As SunPayus summed up, the tournament “was not easy, but there were positives.”

With Chengdu now behind them, G2 Esports turn their attention fully to the upcoming Major — determined to build on their experience, strengthen team chemistry, and prove that this new roster can contend for titles at the highest level.