Dark horses of the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: European Qualifiers

The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 is one of the most anticipated events in the Counter-Strike 2 calendar, featuring top teams from around the globe competing for a $1,250,000 prize pool. As we approach the European Qualifiers, scheduled for August 21-24, several underdog teams are gearing up to make a significant impact. These dark horses, often overlooked, have the potential to surprise established teams and secure their spots in the Major. In this article, we will delve into five such teams: Sangal, B8, GamerLegion, Johnny Speeds, and Zero Tenacity.

Sangal

Sangal has shown remarkable progress since adding Dawid "SaMey" Stańczak to their roster in May 2024. The team quickly found synergy, winning four significant events: RES European Series 4, ESL Challenger League Season 47: Europe, CCT Season 2 European Series 6, and CCT Season 2 European Series 7. These victories earned them $110,500 and spots at prestigious LAN events like ESL Pro League Season 20 and RES Regional Champions, their first LAN appearances since 2022.

The young and passionate lineup has demonstrated its capability to beat formidable opponents such as fnatic, NIP, and 3DMAX, who were directly invited to the RMRs. With such momentum, Sangal is poised to make a deep run in the qualifiers and potentially shake things up at the Major.

B8

B8 has been on a steady climb, building their success over the years. Despite losing their star player Artem "r1nkle" Moroz to NIP, B8 has improved significantly. They have secured victories at CCT Season 2 European Series 2, Elisa Invitational Spring 2024, and CCT Season 2 European Series 5, marking their best season yet with $73,000 in prize money and a spot at the Elisa Masters Espoo 2024, their first notable non-qualifier LAN event.

The team has revived the careers of players like Andrii "npl" Kukharskyi from NAVI and Danyyl "headtr1ck" Valitov from NIP, both of whom are performing at their career-best. With npl taking on the IGL role and improving his individual game, B8 is well-positioned to secure their first Major appearance.

GamerLegion

GamerLegion has assembled a young lineup after their previous roster, which reached the Major final in 2023, disbanded. This new team has already shown potential at BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2024. While they may lack experience and practice, often skipping online events, their individual talent and unpredictable play style could see them through the closed qualifiers.

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Despite the challenges, GamerLegion's performance in recent events hints at a bright future. Their ability to deliver standout performances on LAN could make them a formidable opponent if they reach the Major stage.

Johnny Speeds

Johnny Speeds have taken significant strides in the last few months. As an orgless squad, they have been grinding hard, earning about $50,000 in prize money. Their dedication has seen them defeat notable teams such as fnatic, BLEED, 3DMAX, and Cloud9, showcasing their potential to compete at higher levels. Their recent performances and continuous improvement make them a serious contender in the European Qualifiers. The players' relentless drive and experience will be crucial during the qualification process, particularly in online settings.

Zero Tenacity

Zero Tenacity, often labeled as cheaters by some, have built a reputation through sheer volume of gameplay. They have played more official maps this year than any other team, with Anubis alone being played over 100 times. The Serbian team has reached notable finals, earned $63,000, and secured a place at BLAST Premier: Fall Showdown 2024. Whether or not the cheating accusations hold water, their gameplay results are undeniable. If they can maintain their form, Zero Tenacity has the potential to make a significant impact at the closed qualifiers.

Obvious favourites

While the dark horses bring excitement and unpredictability, several bigger names are expected to qualify for the RMRs without much difficulty. These teams include ENCE, BLEED, Monte, BIG, SAW, Sashi, and 9 Pandas. Despite their instability, their individual skill levels should suffice to navigate through the qualifiers with relative ease. A couple of these already reached the Majors before, and they are eager to repeat this achievement. Also 9 Pandas qualified for the previous Major, but were not able to get to Copenhgen due to the visa issues.

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Conclusion

The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 European Qualifiers promise to be an exciting battleground for these dark horses. Sangal, B8, GamerLegion, Johnny Speeds, and Zero Tenacity each bring unique strengths and recent achievements that make them serious contenders. As they prepare to compete from August 21-24, their journeys and performances will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike. These teams have the potential not only to qualify but also to make a significant impact at the Major itself, demonstrating the ever-evolving and competitive nature of the CS2 scene.