The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 kicks off with the Opening Stage from November 30th to December 3rd. This stage features 16 teams competing in a Swiss System format. Matches that decide elimination or advancement will be Best-of-3, while all others will be Best-of-1. The top 8 teams will move on to the Elimination Stage, while the other 8 teams will be sent home.
The Major comes with a $1,250,000 prize pool, where the winner takes $500,000. After the Opening Stage, the action continues with the Elimination Stage on December 5th-8th, and the tournament wraps up with the Playoff Stage from December 12th-15th, held in a single-elimination bracket.
Opening Matches
Here are the first matches to kick off the Opening Stage:
- FURIA vs GamerLegion
- Virtus.pro vs MIBR
- Liquid vs Cloud9
- Complexity vs FlyQuest
- BIG vs Passion UA
- fnatic vs Wildcard
- The MongolZ vs Rare Atom
- paiN vs Imperial
These games will set the tone for the tournament and give us a first look at which teams are in top form.
Key Storylines to Follow
Favorites for a 3-0 Finish
The MongolZ
The MongolZ is the most consistent team in the Asian region. They recently won the Thunderpick World Championship 2024, earning $500,000, and dominated the Asian RMR to secure their spot at this stage. With a solid map pool and exceptional individual talent, The MongolZ are expected to breeze through this stage.
FURIA
FURIA, a Brazilian powerhouse, has been steadily improving with their new roster. Despite mixed results earlier in the year, the team now looks balanced and experienced, making them a strong contender to finish 3-0.
paiN
Another Brazilian team, paiN has shown consistent results throughout the year. Their strong performances in 2024, including wins in regional tournaments, make them a top candidate for advancing smoothly.
Strong Contenders for Advancement
Virtus.pro
Despite a shaky performance in the European RMR (the team didn’t win versus the Major participants), Virtus.pro has the individual talent to shine. Players like Evgeniy "FL1T" Lebedev and Denis "electroNic" Sharipov are performing at a high level, but the team's inconsistency raises questions. They are expected to finish 3-1 or 3-2.
fnatic
Fnatic has revamped their playstyle with Benjamin "blameF" Bremer leading the charge. His aggressive approach and stellar individual form have reinvigorated the team. After not the best times at Astralis, the player was able to bounce back and show his excellence in a different environment. Also it’s worth mentioning that after such a long career, this is his just second Major. With the pressure of qualifying behind them, fnatic could surprise everyone with a strong showing.
BIG
BIG shocked everyone by advancing through the European RMR. While their map pool remains a weakness, their confidence and style have carried them far. With key wins over teams like HEROIC and Passion UA, BIG could make a deep run here.
Cloud9
Teams with Potential Upsets
Complexity
Complexity’s success largely depends on the performances of Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski and Håkon "hallzerk" Fjærli. While EliGE has been exceptional, hallzerk's inconsistency could prove costly. Their limited map pool adds another layer of difficulty, but they are still capable of pulling off surprises.
MIBR
Imperial
GamerLegion
GamerLegion relies heavily on individual skill without a well-defined structure. Their synergy can lead to success, but it's unlikely they will make it past this stage.
Teams Likely to Struggle
Passion UA
The Ukrainian team made history by qualifying for the Major, but this stage brings a new level of pressure as it features the live audience. Despite strong maps like Anubis and Vertigo, their lack of LAN experience could hurt them, especially in BO3 matches.
Wildcard
While Wildcard performed well in the American RMR, their lack of international experience makes them a prime candidate for a quick exit. They’ll need a miracle to advance.
Rare Atom
As the weakest team in the tournament, Rare Atom faces a steep uphill battle. Even with home-crowd support, their lack of firepower and experience makes them a likely candidate for 0-3.
FlyQuest
FlyQuest's performance has been shaky since their victory at ESL Challenger Atlanta. Their struggles during the Asian RMR suggest that advancing past this stage is highly unlikely.
Expert’s Take: ceh9’s Predictions
Yeah, well, I think Liquid is a sure 3-0, Rare Atom is a sure 0-3, and the underdog is probably Passion UA, which proved itself at RMR and now, in my opinion, is still in the running to reach the second round. Because, in general, I think all the teams there are at their level. That is, if they managed to show themselves well in the previous stage, then, in principle, nothing will change here. The only thing is that perhaps someone will not underestimate them. And this will help their opponent. That is, perhaps this moment helped them in the first stage. And as for Rare Atom, well, they're just Chinese, the Chinese scene is about nothing, a bunch of 322 matches and a lot of people play for money to merge or win. As for Liquid, they are just a team that is top 1, in my opinion, in this sense. It's just a tier-1 team playing against tier-1.5 teams.
Why This Stage Matters
The Opening Stage will decide which teams can handle the pressure and move closer to the Major trophy. With a massive $500,000 waiting for the winner, every match is crucial. Fans can expect thrilling games as teams fight for survival and a chance to prove themselves on one of Counter-Strike 2’s biggest stages.
Follow the tournament starting November 30th and stay tuned for updates as we head into the next stages of the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024.
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