Perfect World Shanghai Major Quarterfinals Preview and Predictions
With the elimination stage behind us, the Perfect World Shanghai Major has reached its most electrifying phase: the quarterfinals. Held at the prestigious Shanghai Oriental Sports Center, the top eight teams are set to face off in a single-elimination bracket, with each match being a best-of-three. Every round will count, as there are no second chances from this point onwards.
Here’s a detailed preview of the quarterfinal matchups and our predictions for each clash.
Playoffs Teams for the Perfect World Shanghai Major (Image Source: Perfect World CS)The MongolZ vs MOUZ
The MongolZ have been the surprise package of this Major, making history as the first Asian team to reach a Major playoff stage. Riding an incredible 13-match win streak, they’ve taken down some of the world’s best, including Heroic, G2, and even MOUZ earlier in the tournament.
Under the leadership of Garidmagnai "bLitz" Byambasuren, their star players Azbayar "Senzu" Munkhbold and Usukhbayar "910" Banzragch have been delivering masterclass performances. Yet, it’s their team chemistry that makes them truly special, with every player capable of stepping up when it matters most.
MOUZ, on the other hand, have had a rocky year but showed glimpses of brilliance sprinkled in between. Despite a shaky start in the elimination stage, including losses to The MongolZ and FaZe, they managed to claw their way into the playoffs.
Spearheaded by the best young IGL in the scene in Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek, and supported by players like Dorian "xertioN" Berman and Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás, MOUZ have proven they can thrive under pressure.
Map Veto: With Vertigo and Anubis being perma-bans for The MongolZ and MOUZ respectively, we can expect these additional Map vetoes: MongolZ remove Nuke, MOUZ remove Dust 2, leaving us with Ancient, Inferno and Mirage.
Prediction: While MOUZ bring more experience to the stage, The MongolZ are playing at a historic level of synergy and momentum. We predict The MongolZ to edge out MOUZ in a tightly contested series.
Team Liquid vs Team Spirit
Team Liquid stand alone as the last representative from the Americas, carrying the weight of an entire region on their shoulders. After a turbulent year, Liquid have shown marked improvement under the leadership of Russel "Twistzz" Van Dulken.
Veteran Keith "NAF" Markovic maintains his consistent clutch plays, while Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis and Roland "ultimate" Tomkowiak are finally shining under their new structure. Although considered underdogs, Liquid have proven to be a team capable of surprising even the toughest opponents.
Team Spirit had much hype before coming into this Major, all thanks to the young fragging prodigy Danil "donk" Kryshkovets. In what could only be described as a stellar year, Team Spirit are looking to close out their best season yet with a bang.
But as Spirit play more and more matches, it is clear that it is not all about the donk. This time around, Myroslav "zont1x" Plakhotja and Dmitriy "sh1ro" Sokolov have also shown up, delivering crucial and impactful plays when necessary. Team Spirit are now looking more like a well-rounded team than a mere one-man show, and that just bodes bad news for their opponents.
Map Veto: Vertigo and Dust 2 seem like the go-to bans for Liquid, while Spirit will go for a ban on Inferno. Out of the remaining maps, Spirit might target Anubis, a map where Liquid look decent. Thus leaving us with Ancient, Mirage and Nuke.
Prediction: Team Spirit’s firepower and depth make them heavy favorites in this matchup. While Liquid’s improvements are commendable, the skill gap between the teams is evident. We expect Spirit to take this series convincingly.
G2 Esports vs Heroic
G2 Esports have had a strong Major run so far. Showcasing the dominance expected from a team with three titles already in 2024. With Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski silencing doubts about his leadership and Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov delivering peak performances, G2 have the momentum to claim another Major trophy. Nikola "NiKo" Kovač also seems to be back in his element, making G2 a formidable machine.
G2's prowess was on full display in their dominant win against FaZe Clan. However, their loss to The MongolZ exposed weaknesses that could be exploited by skilled opponents.
The resurgence of Heroic is a tale of betrayal and perseverance. But at the end of it all, just as their name suggests, they stand in the top eight of a Major. Going from a pile of question marks, Heroic have steadily rebuilt under Damjan "kyxsan" Stoilkovski, and are now back as a threat to the big boys.
While all the members of Heroic are playing well, Guy "NertZ" Iluz is having a particularly stellar tournament. Meanwhile, Abdulkhalik "degster" Gasanov’s resurgence with the AWP has given Heroic an edge. Having already eliminated reigning Major champions NaVi, Heroic are more than capable of pulling off another upset.
Map Veto: G2 might be eyeing Anubis and Vertigo bans, while Heroic have a perma-ban in Inferno. For their second, Nuke might be a viable option. Thus leaving us with Ancient, Dust 2 and Mirage.
Prediction: While Heroic’s rise is admirable, G2’s mechanical skill and firepower should give them the edge in this matchup. We predict a hard-fought series with G2 emerging victorious.
FaZe Clan vs Team Vitality
The final quarterfinal matchup pits two former Major champions against each other. FaZe Clan, the first international roster to claim a Major title, have struggled with inconsistency in recent months.
Despite their shaky form, Håvard "rain" Nygaard remains as the team’s pillar. While David "frozen" Čerňanský and Robin "ropz" Kool provide some much-needed support to the veteran. Pair that with Finn "karrigan" Andersen’s decades worth of experience and strategies, and FaZe Clan still might have a few tricks up their sleeves that Vitality might not see coming.
On paper, Vitality might seem like they’re on the same boat as FaZe Clan. What with only one trophy to their name this year. But the truth is far from it. They have managed consistent results in multiple tournaments this year. But even though they went 3-0 in the Elimination Stage, one could argue that Vitality didn't have the strongest competition.
When put up against Counter-Strike roaylty in Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut, any team could falter. But Vitality has evolved from being just the ZywOo show. Now with William "mezii" Merriman and Shahar "flameZ" Shushan also putting their names on the scoresheet consistently, Vitality have a developed a well rounded trigger-happy roster who can all step up as and when required.
Map Veto: Along with FaZe’s perma-ban of Vertigo, they might also go for an Anubis ban. Meanwhile, Vitality seem likely to ban Ancient, along with Inferno, just to target FaZe. This leaves us with Dust 2, Mirage and Nuke.
Prediction: While FaZe’s experience and resilience make them dangerous, Vitality’s form and roster depth give them the upper hand. We predict Vitality to take this matchup in a competitive but decisive fashion.
The Perfect World Shanghai Major quarterfinals promise thrilling action and intense battles as the world’s best teams vie for glory. Each matchup offers its own narrative and intrigue, setting the stage for unforgettable moments. But with the stakes this high, surprises are always on the cards.
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Featured Image source: Perfect World CS
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