IEM Cologne 2023 Trash Talk | Getting Loud on the Server

With IEM Cologne 2023 reaching its conclusion, there are plenty of hot topics still to discuss. However, amidst it all there’s one thing that has divided the community. ESL set up the player booths during the IEM Cologne 2023 Group Stage in a way that ensured teams faced each other during matches. The result was a massive amount of IEM Cologne trash talk, with players shouting across the room during matches. But of all the players, who took part the most? We’re taking a look through the trash talk of IEM Cologne 2023, to see who was the loudest on the server.

cadiaN’s Shouting

Perhaps the most divisive example of all the IEM Cologne trash talk was cadiaN’s screaming against TheMongolZ. Heroic were big favorites in the game, but TheMongolZ were putting up a real fight. Always looking to give his team the edge, cadiaN resorted to shouting profanities across the room to TheMongolZ’s teenage players.

Post-match, it was a point of contention among the community, with many disliking the approach. Ultimately, cadiaN won’t care, as it inspired his team to victory against TheMongolZ after being a single round away from defeat at IEM Cologne 2023. Out of the server, he was polite and humble as usual, showing the facade was just to get the win. Given he felt it necessary to gain an advantage like this, TheMongolZ will simply take it for the compliment it is.

HooXi’s Cockiness

The Gigachad himself, HooXi was one of the loudest players taking part in the IEM Cologne trash talk. At times, it seemed as though every time G2 won a round, HooXi would be there making himself known.

It’s a strange double-edged sword with HooXi. He boasts a negative K/D ratio in almost every map he plays, and some feel that you’ve got to earn the right to be as loud as he is. But as an IGL, when things aren’t going well for yourself on the server, you’ve got to find other ways to positively contribute. At IEM Cologne 2023, HooXi found that advantage through his trash talk, and leaned into it. Considering G2 went on to win IEM Cologne 2023, he surely wouldn’t change a thing.

dev1ce’s Waves

With Astralis back in form, dev1ce took to the new format like a duck to water. From the word “Go,” dev1ce was taunting opponents in every match with a more subtle approach. First, he’d beat them on the server, usually in some form of clutch situation. Then, he simply look over to the other side of the room, and wave at his defeated enemies. It was either that, or a thumbs up. Either way, it was a huge heel turn from the usually-humble dev1ce.

Imagine it – you’re sitting across from the guy who has just bested you in a 1v3, and you look up to see him waving at you. That’s a tilter if we ever saw one, and considering Astralis’ Semi-Final run at IEM Cologne 2023, it clearly helped.

The only time dev1ce seemed to meet his match was against m0NESY, who had the ability and audacity to do it back. Of course, dev1ce took m0NESY’s jabs in good spirits. After all, if you can give it, you have to be able to take it back.