PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 Playoffs Preview and Predictions

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive

27 Mar

Kaustavmani Choudhury

The Eliminations stage of the PGL Major Copenhagen is finally concluded. And the eight remaining teams now make their way to the Royal Arena for the Playoffs.

The Playoff Stage, starting from March 28th to 31st, features a single-elimination bracket format with all matches being Bo3.

For a recap of the Elimination Stage, click HERE.

Playoffs Fixtures:

Team Vitality vs Cloud9

28 March | 5pm CET | 9am PDT

As winners of the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023, Vitality enters the playoffs with ambitions of securing back-to-back victories. However, the team has undergone changes since their last triumph. Complicating matters, ZywOo has been battling an illness, impacting his performance on the server throughout the tournament. The break between games may offer an opportunity for his recovery, but Vitality will heavily rely on him returning to top form to stand a chance against Cloud9.

Cloud9's journey to the playoffs has been marked by their innovative approach, opting for an AWPer-less roster and utilizing the AWP sparingly, rotating it among skilled players. Despite facing initial setbacks, including a loss to Team Spirit in the Elimination Stage, Cloud9 rallied with victories over ECSTATIC, G2 (both Bo1s), and a dominant 2-1 triumph against NaVi in the Bo3. This unconventional strategy has proven effective, but they'll need a stellar performance from a resurgent Ax1Le to overcome Vitality's formidable challenge.

The last time these two titans of Counter Strike went head-to-head in a Bo3 was during the PGL Major Copenhagen European RMR B, and Cloud9 came out on top in that engagement. And judging by their recent form, we are poised to give Cloud9 the win this time as well.

Team Spirit vs FaZe Clan

28 March | 8pm CET | 12 pm PDT

Team Spirit entered the Major as favorites following their historic win at IEM Katowice, and they lived up to expectations, securing a playoff spot with a flawless 3-0 record. Their victories included notable wins against Cloud9, Imperial, and NaVi in both Bo1 and Bo3 formats. Now, Spirit has an opportunity to solidify their status as the world's best CS team. The performance of Danil "donk" Kryshkovets, particularly if he maintains his form from Katowice, could potentially overwhelm FaZe and tilt the tie heavily in Spirit's favor.

On the other side, FaZe Clan, although no strangers to success, faced initial hurdles in the Bo1 matches against Heroic and Eternal Fire. However, they bounced back in the Bo3s, in typical FaZe Clan fashion. They won against Imperial and completely demolished Complexity. Despite their reputation, FaZe finds themselves in the unusual position of underdogs against Spirit. In this crucial matchup, the performances of David "frozen" Čerňanský and Helvijs "broky" Saukants, who have been standout players for FaZe at the Major, will be pivotal.

The last time these two powerhouses faced off against each other was in the Grand Finals of IEM Katowice. And Team Spirit absolutely crushed FaZe Clan with a clean 3-0. And with their current form, Team Spirit are the favorites in this matchup as well.

Eternal Fire vs Natus Vincere

March 29 | 5pm CET | 9am PDT

Eternal Fire's path to the playoffs has been marked by resilience and impressive performances. Led by İsmailсan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş, who is currently displaying peak form on LAN, and with Engin "MAJ3R" Küpeli standing out as a top-performing IGL in terms of fragging, Eternal Fire approaches their matchup against Natus Vincere with confidence. Their bold and aggressive style of Counter-Strike promises an exciting showdown, ensuring they'll leave a lasting impression regardless of the outcome.

Natus Vincere faced initial challenges with setbacks against Team Spirit and Cloud9 in Bo3 matches but secured their playoff spot by regrouping and securing a convincing 2-0 win against paiN Gaming. As they prepare to face Eternal Fire, NAVI's success hinges heavily on the performance of Ivan "iM" Mihai and Ihor "w0nderful" Zhdanov. While iM struggles through what could be considered a career-low tournament, w0nderful has consistently delivered strong performances, living up to his name. NAVI's fortunes in the playoffs will largely depend on these two players finding their form and contributing significantly to the team's success.

The two teams last faced off against each other at IEM Katowice. NaVi was the one to come out on top in that matchup. And if the NaVi players can find their footing in this one, they’re poised to win it again.

G2 Esports vs MOUZ

29 March | 8pm CET | 12 pm PDT

MOUZ enters their matchup against G2 riding a wave of exceptional form, propelled by stellar performances from the entire roster. The team members have all showcased remarkable numbers across various aspects of the game. Their flawless 3-0 record in the Elimination Stage, coupled with a dominant victory against Complexity in the Bo3 format, underscores their current strength. With Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek steering the team's coordination, MOUZ possesses the firepower and cohesion necessary to confidently take on G2 in the playoffs.

Meanwhile, G2's journey to the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 Playoffs was marked by a stroke of luck, as they advanced due to a PC crash from Dzhami "Jame" Ali during a crucial round against Virtus.pro. However, replicating such fortune against MOUZ will require nothing short of another miracle. While Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov has stood out as a beacon of hope for G2, the Kovač cousins have struggled to make a significant impact when it matters most.

For G2 to stand a chance, the Kovač duo must elevate their performance to complement m0NESY's contributions. But until they can. MOUZ are the favorites to win this matchup.

Where to Watch:

The Playoff Stage will be broadcasted live on PGL’s official channels on Twitch, YouTube, Kick, Facebook, and Steam. There are also multiple language streams available for global viewers. Below you can find a list of all available streams:

Featured Image Source: PGL

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