After another day of CS2 action at the PW Shanghai Major 2024, Spirit, Liquid, and G2 have joined the ranks of the Playoffs qualified teams. There has been more at stake than just qualification, though, with survival also on the line for several top teams in the tournament. Did they make it? Let’s take a look at the day gone by.
G2, Liquid, and Spirit all progress
Credit: Perfect World
In terms of the progression games, it was all the favorites who made it through to the Playoffs of the PW Shanghai Major 2024. G2 made FaZe look like amateurs, allowing them just seven rounds across both maps to get the job done quickly. NiKo played like a man hunting a Major, although his cousin huNter- also had a starring role in this series.
This was followed up by Team Liquid, who played out a 2:1 series with MIBR. Despite the trading of maps, Liquid’s map wins weren’t even close, making this the inevitable result in this series. Only IGL Twistzz posted a negative K/D throughout this series, making it a total team effort. It’s a phenomenal result for Liquid, who missed out on the PGL Major Copenhagen altogether earlier this year.
The final team qualifying today was Team Spirit, who were faced with the prospect of beating a tough Heroic team to reach the top 8 of this event. This was a fantastic series, with Spirit eventually pipping out Heroic thanks to the difference maker, donk. He even won his first-ever 1v5 in his career, a worthwhile highlight despite being on the losing map in this 2:1 series.
MOUZ and NAVI live to fight another day
Credit: Perfect World
After yesterday’s matches at the PW Shanghai Major 2024, the big storyline was that MOUZ and Major holders NAVI both found themselves just one match from elimination. After today, both teams are still in the fight.
MOUZ had to eliminate 3DMAX in order to survive. However, 3DMAX made them fight every step of the way. This series may have been 2:0, but the fact that both maps were 13:11 meant that a couple of rounds here and there could have seen this one go either way. It was the individual quality that made the difference here, especially one notable 1v3 clutch from siuhy on Dust2 that showcased an insane spray transfer.
NAVI faced GamerLegion in their own PW Shanghai Major 2024 elimination match, although the result was exactly the same: 2:0. This was a little more one-sided, with GamerLegion struggling to get into the game. Both b1t and iM were in solid form here, although the ongoing performances of jL throughout this tournament continue to be a concern. Major MVP in Copenhagen, jL must improve if NAVI are to win this event.