With all the regional RMRs officially concluded, the 16 teams competing in the Opening stage of the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 are now confirmed. Let’s dive into the first-ever CS2 Major to take place in China!
Opening stage key information
Sixteen teams have qualified for the Perfect World Shanghai Major Opening stage: seven teams from the Americas RMR, six teams from Europe RMR (three from Group A and three from Group B), and three teams from the Asia RMR. Here’s the full list of teams and their respective regions:
Americas RMR:
- MIBR (+6185*)
- Wildcard (+37497*)
- Liquid (+2452*)
- Complexity (+3810*)
- paiN (+3810*)
- Imperial (+14271*)
- FURIA (+2381*)
EU RMR A:
- Cloud9 (+3528*)
- Fnatic (+9521*)
- GamerLegion (+23765*)
EU RMR B:
- BIG (+4762*)
- Virtus.pro (+3143*)
- Passion UA (+9521*)
Asia RMR:
- Rare Atom (+94666*)
- The MongolZ (+1427*)
- FlyQuest (+23765*)
These 16 teams will compete in a Swiss format, where they’ll battle it out for a chance to advance. Only the top eight teams will secure spots in the Elimination stage of the Perfect World Shanghai Major.
What to expect during the Opening stage
- The Brazil derby: Four Brazilian teams - MIBR, paiN, Imperial, and FURIA - have made it to the Opening stage, creating a high likelihood of them facing off against each other. In fact, Imperial will take on paiN in their opening match. With such strong representation, there’s a significant chance that at least one Brazilian team will advance to the Elimination stage, showcasing the strength of Brazil's CS2 scene.
- Big names: Familiar faces from top-tier tournaments in the CS:GO era continue to shine in CS2. Teams like Liquid, Virtus.pro, fnatic, and Cloud9 bring both experience and ambition, with players who have won Majors in the past. For these powerhouses, the Opening stage is just the first step on their journey. The stakes are high right from the start, with Liquid facing off against Cloud9 in their opening match.
- Rising power from the East: The MongolZ have been on the rise in the CS2 pro scene, delivering strong performances at ESL Pro League Season 20, IEM Rio 2024, and the Thunderpick World Championship. Another team to watch is Rare Atom from China, the sole home team in this Shanghai Major. With the energy of the home crowd behind them, Rare Atom will be determined to make a deep run and not stop at the Opening stage.
- Dark horses: BIG and Passion UA proved their potential during the EU RMR B. Passion UA made waves by taking down big names like Virtus.pro, Spirit, and Astralis, while BIG cruised through with a 3-0 record. Both teams carry winning momentum and confidence into the Opening stage, aiming to disrupt expectations and extend their impressive runs.
Big favorites to advance to the Elimination stage
For veteran CS:GO and CS2 audiences, it’s no secret that the Major is a stage where upsets often steal the show. Dark horses break through, big names stumble, and, inevitably, our pick’ems get ruined. That unpredictability is part of what makes the Major so thrilling!
If I were to choose eight teams to advance to the Elimination stage, my picks would be: FURIA, The MongolZ, Virtus.pro, Liquid, BIG, MIBR, Passion UA and Cloud9.
Betting insights for the Elimination stage
In the Swiss format, the first-round matches are best-of-one (Bo1), while all advancement and elimination matches are best-of-three (Bo3). Here's how you can adjust your betting strategies for each format:
Bo1 matches: Bo1 matches are known for their unpredictability, as a single map can make all the difference. If the odds for both teams are close, consider placing a round handicap bet on the underdog. It is also recommended to place live bets as watching the game live allows you to gauge team momentum and make informed decisions during the match.
Bo3 matches: Bo3 matches feature three maps: two chosen by each team and one decider map. Watch the live stream and after you know which maps they will be playing, review the teams’ recent performances on the selected maps to identify strengths and weaknesses. Use this data to analyze likely outcomes and place your bets strategically during the match.
*Odds subject to change
