The PW Shanghai Major 2024 Opening Stage has rumbled on over the last few days, with 16 teams hoping to make their dreams come true and secure qualification for the Elimination Stage. Of these teams, five have already made it through, joining the eight teams qualified via the Valve Ranking System. Just three spots remain, with one day left to play.
Let’s take a look at the highlights from the last three days of CS2 action, shall we?
Liquid and The MongolZ run out 3:0 winners
Credit: Perfect World
Well, it seems our Shanghai Major CS2 Pick’Ems are kind of cooked. We bet against The MongolZ going 3:0, and that’s our error. It all looked too easy for them, who looked right at home as they romped to a spot in the PW Major Shanghai Elimination Stage. Here’s a stat for you – across four maps in the Opening Stage, The MongolZ dropped just 15 rounds. Back in CS:GO, that wouldn’t even be enough to lose a game.
They’re joined in the 3:0 bracket by Team Liquid. Their run against Cloud9, Wildcard, and FlyQuest wasn’t quite as simple, with each match running it close before the individual quality of Liquid shone through. That said, most had them among the Opening Stage favorites, so it’s no surprise that they’ve made it out here. I’d go as far as to say it was the minimum expectation for Liquid at this Major.
FURIA, paiN, and GamerLegion get through early
Credit: Perfect World
There’ll be no last-minute nerviness for FURIA, paiN Gaming, and GamerLegion after all three teams made it through in the 3:1 bracket. It’s funny how the stories of these teams have evolved. FURIA have been extremely sloppy throughout the CS2 tournament, yet have avoided any real disaster here.
Meanwhile, both paiN Gaming and GamerLegion have improved as the event has progressed, the latter in particular showing that this young team is already more than just potential. It’s a relief for all three of these teams that they won’t have to take part in the final day of the PW Shanghai Major 2024 Opening Stage – they can sit back and enjoy the chaos.
Fnatic hit a new low
Credit: Perfect World
We won’t waste too much time on this, but seeing Fnatic drop out of a Major in last place for the first time in their history is just sad at this point. It’s almost more undignified than not reaching the Major in the first place. They just looked bad, and a loss to hometown heroes Rare Atom was a genuinely miserable watch. If Fnatic are in any way serious about competing in CS2, we’ll see some real overhauls here going into 2025.
So far, this is the full list of teams who have reached the Elimination Stage of the PW Shanghai Major 2024 via Opening Stage qualification:
- Team Liquid
- The MongolZ
- FURIA
- paiN Gaming
- GamerLegion
And here are the matches tomorrow that will decide the final three teams heading to the Elimination Stage:
- FlyQuest vs. MIBR
- Passion UA vs. Wildcard
- BIG vs. Complexity
If you’re looking to add a little extra spice to the final Opening Stage matches, BC.Game has a Shanghai Major promo ongoing, giving you the chance to win some free bets!