On November 17, the first of two European RMR tournaments for Counter-Strike 2 will kick off in Shanghai, featuring 16 teams competing for seven slots at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024. Bo3.gg, together with Oleksandr "Petr1k" Petryk, presents a preview of European RMR A.

Tournament Format

As usual, 16 teams will compete in a single group using the Swiss system. All matches, except for elimination/advancement games, are played in a BO1 format. Elimination and advancement games are BO3. The Buchholz system is used for seeding matches from rounds 3 to 5. The top seven teams will qualify for the Shanghai Major.

Top Contenders for a 3-0 Finish

Alongside Petr1k, we identified two key favorites for European RMR A: Natus Vincere and MOUZ. While NAVI's dominance is unquestionable as the best team of 2024, some might question MOUZ's position.

In my opinion, there's a significant gap in team quality here. NAVI, Vitality, MOUZ, and FaZe stand out compared to the others. They're the main favorites to qualify. This doesn't mean they can't lose a BO1 or even fail to qualify, but objectively, they're the strongest here.

However, if we consider the current form and recent results, NAVI and MOUZ are the favorites for a 3-0 finish. NAVI always approaches major tournaments seriously, and with a favorable bracket, they're the top favorite.

Oleksandr "Petr1k" Petryk

MOUZ stands out due to their roster stability and consistent results. Almost every tournament sees them reach at least the playoffs, often taking prize places. The current MOUZ roster has set high expectations among fans, proving they can contend for top spots.

MOUZ is a team in form, on a roll, and unlikely to disappoint. They're the kind of team that can beat strong opponents. The only issue might arise if they face NAVI, Vitality, or even FaZe in a 2-0 match; they might lose a BO3 to those teams.

Oleksandr "Petr1k" Petryk

Teams That Must Qualify for the Major

We also highlighted teams likely to face challenges at the upcoming RMR but are still expected to qualify for the Shanghai Major. According to Petr1k, these include Team Vitality, FaZe Clan, SAW, Fnatic, and, of course, Team Falcons with s1mple.

What I said about NAVI also applies to Vitality, but considering their inconsistency and unclear roster situation, I think they’re more prone to failure than MOUZ. But they should still make it to the Major.

As for FaZe, it's hard to comment. Their recent results have been poor, and it’s unclear what’s going on within the team. Still, even on a bad day, FaZe should qualify for the Major. However, they’re not a 3-0 team—they're more likely to go 3-2 or make it through the Last Chance stage.

Given their recent successes, SAW should also qualify. They won ESL Challenger Katowice 2024, showed strong gameplay, and look solid overall. Fnatic, too, has a good roster with strong players. They’re not in peak form but still stand out compared to other teams.

And, of course, Falcons. With this roster, failing to qualify would be a disaster. Considering their opponents include SINNERS, Dynamo Eclot, Sangal, Rebels, UNiTY, Cloud9, and Nemiga, they should dominate. They must crush these teams.

Oleksandr "Petr1k" Petryk

Biggest Underdogs

Among European RMR A participants, Cloud9 appears the most hopeless. The team lacks cohesion and a clear playing style, and their current roster construction seems random. Adding to this are their inconsistent results across various tournaments. According to Petr1k:

There are many candidates for a 0-3 finish in European RMR A, but I think Cloud9 has the highest chances. Their roster is a complete failure and should spectacularly crash out.

Oleksandr "Petr1k" Petryk

READ MORE: Title sponsor of Cloud9 is bankrupt

The Dark Horse

Among all teams competing in European RMR A, the "dark horse" title goes to SINNERS. Led by the experienced oskar, the team has significantly improved over the past few months, even winning the CCT Season 2 European Series #11. Playing the upcoming RMR in comfortable settings (hotel rooms) could be an advantage. SINNERS might surprise the CS2 community and secure a Major slot.

I'll highlight the Czech team SINNERS with veteran oskar. On LAN, they can surprise, and they’ve played plenty of similar tournaments. I think they deserve a chance to shock everyone and qualify for the Major.

Oleksandr "Petr1k" Petryk

The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: European RMR will run from November 17-20 in China. Sixteen teams will compete for seven Major slots. Stay updated with event news, schedules, and results at the link provided.