The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 is set to be one of the most significant events in the Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) calendar. This highly anticipated tournament will bring together the best teams from around the world to compete for a share of the $1,250,000 prize pool. The event will take place in Shanghai, China, from November 30 to December 15, 2024.

Event Details

• Dates: November 30 - December 15, 2024
• Location: Shanghai, China
• Total Teams: 24
• Prize Pool: $1,250,000

The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 will feature 24 teams competing in a rigorous tournament to claim the prestigious title and substantial prize money. This Major will include teams from three regions: Asia, the Americas, and Europe, with varying numbers of teams from each region based on their performance in previous Majors and Regional Major Ranking (RMR) events.

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Regional Representation

The distribution of the 24 teams across the three regions is as follows:

• Asia: 3 teams
• Americas: 7 teams
• Europe: 14 teams

This allocation ensures a diverse representation of teams from different parts of the world, promoting a competitive and inclusive environment.

Qualification Pathways

To qualify for the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, teams must navigate through a series of Regional Major Ranking (RMR) events and closed qualifiers. The qualification process varies slightly for each region.

• Asia: Due to a smaller pool of ranked teams, Asia will include open qualifiers, making it the only region with this format.
• Americas and Europe: These regions will rely on closed qualifiers and invitations based on Valve's regional standings.

The closed qualifiers will be held from August 21 to 29, 2024. Successful teams from these qualifiers will advance to the RMR events, which will take place on LAN in Shanghai from November 12 to 24, 2024.

Invitations and RMR System

Major Invitations

• Core Lineup Requirement: Major invites are extended to the core lineup (excluding substitutes) that earned an invitation from the most recent RMR event. Teams cannot change their core lineup between the RMR and the Major, although they can register a different coach or substitute player.
• Stages of the Major:
• Opening Stage: 16 teams will start in this stage.
• Elimination Stage: 8 teams receive byes directly to this stage based on their performance in the RMR events.

RMR Invitations

• Regional Standings: Half of each region's RMR teams will be invited directly via Regional Standings, while the remaining positions will be filled through closed qualifiers. The date for determining Regional Standings will be communicated in advance by the tournament organizers.

Qualification Pathways and RMR Details

RMR Regions

The RMR events will be held in three main regions: Europe, Americas, and Asia. If circumstances require the RMRs to be held online, the regions will expand to include Oceania and separate North and South America:

• Europe
• North America
• South America
• Asia
• Oceania

Regional Standings

Teams are sorted within each region via an official Regional Standing system. Invitations to the RMRs and subsequent stages of the Major are based on these standings. To accept an invitation based on Regional Standing, at least three of the core roster members must agree to participate. If they cannot, the invitation will be extended to the next-highest rated roster in the region.

Team Regional Assignment

A team's region is determined by the citizenship of the majority of its players. In cases where players from multiple regions are involved, the team chooses the region that provides the lowest latency for qualifiers. If all players belong to regions outside the primary RMR regions, they may choose any region represented on their roster.

Regional Representation and Invitations

Major Invitations

The Major will feature 24 teams, divided into two stages:

• Opening Stage: 16 teams, including those advancing from the RMR events.
• Elimination Stage: 8 teams receive byes directly to this stage, based on their performance in previous Majors and RMR events.

RMR Invitations

RMR invitations are determined by a mix of direct invites from Regional Standings and teams advancing from closed qualifiers. The distribution of these invitations is designed to ensure fair representation and competition.

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Distribution of Major Invitations

Major invitations are distributed based on the performance of regions in the preceding Major. Each region receives:

• Opening Stage Invitations: One for each team that reached the Elimination stage in the previous Major.
• Elimination Stage Invitations: One for each team that reached the Playoff stage in the previous Major.

Additionally, eight Opening Stage invitations are allocated as follows:

• Europe: 3
• Americas: 3
• Asia: 2

Conclusion

The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 is set to be a landmark event in the CS2 competitive scene, offering a massive prize pool and bringing together the best teams from around the world. With a well-structured qualification system, including RMR events and regional standings, the Major promises to deliver top-tier competition and excitement. Teams will need to navigate through rigorous qualifiers and perform consistently to earn their spot on the grand stage in Shanghai. This event is not just a test of skill but also a celebration of the global CS2 community, highlighting the game's growth and the increasing competitiveness of its esports landscape.