Natus Vincere’s run at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 came to a crushing end after a 1-2 loss to HEROIC in the match for a playoff spot. This elimination is a bitter pill to swallow for the reigning Major champions and the team considered by many the best of 2024. Despite starting strong with a win over Liquid, NAVI faltered against MIBR, Spirit, and ultimately HEROIC, sealing their fate. Let’s break down what went wrong and explore the key reasons behind this surprising exit.

Tough Start Against MIBR

NAVI’s troubles began after their opening victory against Liquid when they faced MIBR on Inferno. The Brazilians came out swinging, securing a massive 9-0 lead thanks to an incredible performance from Felipe "⁠insani⁠" Yuji. NAVI attempted a comeback, with Mihai "⁠iM⁠" Ivan delivering a heroic ace and Aleksi "⁠Aleksib⁠" Virolainen clutching a 1v2. However, insani’s last-round 1v2 clutch sealed a heartbreaking 13-11 loss for NAVI.

Spirit’s Dominance

The loss to MIBR left NAVI shaken, and things only got worse against Spirit on Mirage. NAVI managed just two rounds in one of their worst-ever performances. Ihor "⁠w0nderful⁠" Zhdanov and Valerii "⁠b1t⁠" Vakhovskyi combined for only three kills in the first half, a shocking stat for the usually reliable stars. Spirit’s precise executes and relentless firepower crushed NAVI 13-2, pushing them to the brink of elimination.

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The Decider: NAVI vs. HEROIC

Later the team defeated GamerLegion but facing elimination, fought hard in their final match against HEROIC. The series started with a painful 3-13 loss on Mirage, NAVI’s former signature map. HEROIC exploited both bombsites with perfect executes, while NAVI couldn’t hold their ground, especially on the A site. Aleksib and b1t struggled, and NAVI failed to win crucial clutches, letting the map slip away.

Surprisingly, NAVI bounced back on Nuke, a map they hadn’t shown much strength on before. Led by w0nderful and b1t, they dominated with a 13-5 win, forcing the decider on Ancient. NAVI started strong, with w0nderful securing a quad-kill and leading a miraculous defuse just 0.1 seconds before the bomb exploded.

However, HEROIC’s resilience proved too strong. Despite an iM 1v3 clutch on the T-side that seemed to spark life into NAVI, HEROIC held their ground. Guy "⁠NertZ⁠" Iluz’s sharp plays in Middle kept NAVI from gaining control, and HEROIC closed out Ancient 13-9, eliminating the reigning Major champions.

Expert Insight from Kane

Reflecting on NAVI’s performance, the former NAVI coach Mykhailo "Kane" Blahin shared his thoughts:

I don’t think there’s one main reason for NAVI’s struggles. It’s a combination of a long season, travel fatigue, and the inability to address key issues in time. Their bootcamp in Spain followed by the long trip to China surely added to the team’s mental exhaustion. Despite efforts like morning yoga and sticking to a schedule, it seems the competitive fire just wasn’t there.

 

Kane also pointed out NAVI’s struggles on Mirage:

Mirage, once NAVI’s best map, became a liability. They likely focused on fixing other maps, which left their comfort zone exposed when it mattered most. Individually, even stars like b1t and w0nderful had career-low performances, but it’s hard to blame them after such a draining season.

 

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Emotional Responses from the Players

The players’ reactions after the loss highlight just how tough this Major was for NAVI.

After NAVI’s elimination, Justinas "jL" Lekavicius opened up about his struggles throughout the season. He admitted facing mental challenges that affected his performance, particularly during critical moments at the Major. Despite these difficulties, he expressed gratitude for the support he received and promised to work on regaining his confidence for future competitions.

IM shared his disappointment about how the season ended but remained optimistic. He acknowledged HEROIC’s strong performance while thanking fans for their unwavering support throughout a challenging year. He emphasized the need for rest and recovery before the next competitive season.

The team's leader Aleksib took the blame on himself:

What’s Next for NAVI?

Despite the devastating exit, it’s unlikely that NAVI will make roster changes. The team had an exceptional year, winning PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 and staying competitive throughout the season. They remain one of the top three teams globally, and this Major exit might just be a setback before another strong run in 2025.

With time to rest, reset, and rework their game, NAVI has every reason to come back stronger next season. This chapter might be closed, but their story in Counter-Strike 2 is far from over.