Shanghai Major favorites and dark horses

Today, Valve and Perfect World officially announced the seedings for the Shanghai Major in CS2. The 24 best teams in the world have learned their initial placements, setting the stage for early predictions on their chances. In this article, the CS.MONEY blog dives into the top contenders, dark horses, and compelling storylines of the tournament.

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Which Eight Teams Advance Directly to the Elimination Stage?

Under the tournament’s updated rules, initial seeding is based on two factors: a team’s position in the Valve rankings and their region’s performance at the previous Major. The RMR results no longer influence seeding, which has notably impacted BIG — despite their 3-0 record at RMR, they’ll start in the opening stage.

As for the second stage, most of the favorites begin their campaigns there. Here’s the full list of eight top European teams seeded directly into the second phase:

• Natus Vincere
• MOUZ
• Team Vitality
• FaZe Clan
• Team Spirit
• G2 Esports
• HEROIC
• 3DMAX

CS2 Shanghai Major Favorites

The main favorite is Natus Vincere. The Ukrainian organization has established a stable system that isn’t overly reliant on superstar players. While skill is crucial, their disciplined approach makes them a formidable team. MOUZ can be placed in the same category, though they lack the significant victories Na’Vi has achieved.

FaZe Clan, Team Vitality, and G2 Esports are also strong contenders. G2 has found solid form, and there’s less pressure on them, as the Shanghai tournament serves as sort of the Last Dance for some players. Although FaZe Clan and Vitality haven’t dominated lately, they’re always within arm’s reach of a trophy.

Team Spirit can still give top teams a hard time, largely thanks to donk, but his individual brilliance alone doesn’t seem to be enough for major victories. Meanwhile, HEROIC and 3DMAX share similar situations to Spirit but lack a standout player like donk.

Who Will Play in the Opening Stage of the Shanghai Major?

Does this mean that the remaining 16 teams have no chance at the trophy? Not at all. Among these squads are several that could stir up surprises.

First up is The MongolZ. This team has long been competing in Tier-2 tournaments but has recently grown into a solid lineup capable of at least reaching the playoffs. Much will depend on their opponents: if the opposing team makes mistakes, The MongolZ will punish them ruthlessly. If not, individual skill of top teams may become the key factor in the match.

Teams from North America and Brazil also have the potential to deliver surprises. FURIA’s form in Shanghai remains uncertain, as their performances in recent Majors have been lackluster. Meanwhile, Team Liquid and Complexity have serious rosters, but their outcomes are unpredictable — they could either rise to the occasion or fail spectacularly.

Regardless of the favorites and dark horses, we’re in for several weeks of thrilling Counter-Strike 2 from the best teams in the world. The first matches kick off this Saturday, and we’re hoping for an unforgettable tournament!