With the conclusion of the Perfect World Shanghai Major Opening Stage, all eyes will shift towards the Elimination Stage where the big dogs await their time to show the pinnacle of Counter-Strike in the server.
Eight teams have already booked their spot through the RMR, while the remaining squads will join from the Opening Stage including heavy hitters such as Team Liquid and The Mongolz who qualified with a clean record. Moreover, just as the Opening Stage had a few upsets, we also expect the Elimination Stage to be a slaughter ground for some of the favorites.
Taking that into account and with the teams’ latest showings, here are our stars and letdowns of the Shanghai Major Elimination Stage.
Contents
The Powerhouses
Team Vitality
Picking Team Vitality as one of the best from the stage is a no brainer, especially with their results during the RMR and moderately successful year. For Dan “apEX” Madesclaire’s team, their struggles often come up in the later stages of tournaments, unable to break through the playoff wall.
This is a major drawback for the team particularly when Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut isn’t at his peak. In that case, the responsibility typically falls on Lotan “Spinx” Giladi and Shahar “flameZ” Shushan to step up. However, given their specific roles and positions within the team, it’s a difficult challenge to consistently deliver game-changing performances under those circumstances. Despite that, we expect from Vitality to breeze past the stage and qualify convincingly to the playoffs.
G2 Esports
G2 Esports managed to have quite the bounce back right before the Major after lifting the BLAST Premier Fall and World Finals. During the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, the samurai tripped on the last hurdles after losing to Natus Vincere in the semifinals. But since then, they regularly made the playoffs and were hot contenders at the biggest events including IEM Chengdu and Cologne.
While Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski received his fair share of criticism throughout the year due to the lack of trophy lifts and personal performance, this Major serves as the perfect opportunity to silence the naysayers. After all, his squad boasts some of the best talents in the game in addition to the signing of Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa who hit the ground running with incredible impact.
Because of that, G2 stands as one of the favorites to secure a playoff ticket in Shanghai. Unless they turn to their old habits and choke, but that’s unlikely.
Natus Vincere
The PGL Major Copenhagen champions will look towards solidifying their status as the best team of the year. Natus Vincere under Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen’s leadership has found success with four trophy lifts at the Esports World Cup, EPL Season 20 and IEM Rio, while finishing second at other notable tournaments including IEM Cologne.
Despite being the standout team of 2024, Natus Vincere heads into the Shanghai Major with lingering questions about their form. Their shocking last-place finish at the BLAST World Finals and a shaky performance at the RMRs, which included a surprising loss to MOUZ, have cast doubt on their air of invincibility.
Even so, it’s far too early to write them off. Under the leadership of Aleksib, NAVI has consistently shown the ability to adapt and dominate, turning setbacks into valuable lessons. As reigning Major champions, they’ll be determined to reaffirm their position as the best team in the world.
The Letdowns
Team Spirit
It’s no secret that Team Spirit has had a rough second half of the year. Up until BetBoom Dacha Belgrade #2, the Russian squad fell flat at the Esports World Cup and IEM Cologne with teams breaking the “donk, go kill” meta. This down spiral trend continued to the RMR where the Russian squad almost missed the Major, having qualified from the 7th Place Decider Match against Ninjas in Pyjamas.
The race for Player of the Year could take a decisive turn at the Major, and donk might just go into beast mode to carry his team. However, Team Spirit’s chances remain slim if their shaky form persists into the Elimination Stage. Donk’s individual brilliance might create moments of excitement, but Team Spirit still struggles with significant weaknesses in their map pool.
While it wouldn’t be surprising to see them secure qualification, an early elimination wouldn’t raise many eyebrows either, given the inconsistency stemming from their six-month hiatus. This Major will be a critical test of whether donk’s star power can overcome his team’s broader challenges.
FaZe Clan
Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen!
Similar to Team Spirit, FaZe Clan has struggled to find consistent success since their victory at IEM Chengdu. While their recent eliminations have mostly come at the hands of top-five teams, it doesn’t bode well for their chances in the Elimination Stage, where they’ll once again face elite opposition that has bested them throughout the year.
FaZe Clan’s history proves they’re never a team to completely write off. Their ability to orchestrate upsets and stage historic comebacks has cemented their reputation as a dangerous contender. However, this time, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where FaZe breezes through the competition. Even if they manage to qualify, it will demand an extraordinary effort.
The reasons behind FaZe’s underwhelming performances remain unclear. On paper, they boast a star-studded lineup featuring some of the best players in the game. Whether Finn “karrigan” Andersen can pull off another tactical masterclass to rally his team remains to be seen, so be sure to catch the action as it unfolds starting December 5th and see who bests and busts in Shanghai.
