Sensational Victory for NAVI and Other Highlights from PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024.
Yesterday (March 31st) marked the conclusion of the first-ever CS2 Major in history. The tournament proved to be quite successful, attracting the attention of a massive audience. This event had it all: from yet another unexpected champion to fan disruptions during matches. Over the past three days at the Royal Arena, there were plenty of dramatic moments that will remain etched in the memory of the entire community for years to come. Let’s recap the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024 and try to dissect the playoff results.
Quarterfinals: Where All Pick'em Predictions Were Shattered.
The first match featured a showdown between Cloud9 and Vitality. The Russian squad entered the playoffs with a 3-1 record, defeating formidable teams along the way, leading many to seriously consider their strength. Vitality, on the other hand, advanced to the next round by defeating less prominent opponents and failed to exhibit confident gameplay. The main star of the French scene, ZywOo, was not feeling his best. The sniper was expected to provide his team with the necessary edge, especially considering Cloud9 lacked a player of similar caliber. Indeed, Mathieu proved that he is still one of the best in the world and can single-handedly close out matches. It all started from the very first round on Inferno, where Cloud9 managed to lose a 4v5 situation with the bomb planted on the B-site. Despite the Russian team eventually securing several rounds and even leading at one point, they failed to finish strong. Vitality won their own pick and left no chance on Anubis. For many, this result was sensational, as nobody expected such an experienced lineup to falter upon stepping onto the Royal Arena.
The match between FaZe and Team Spirit was the true highlight of the tournament. A full three maps, with overtime, comebacks, and intense emotions. FaZe Clan’s captain delivered a stellar performance amidst his home crowd, showcasing the “match of his life.” On that day, karrigan achieved everything he aimed for. He was so confident in his team that he opted for Vertigo as the deciding third map, a map they hadn’t played since November 2023 and hadn’t specifically practiced for this event. Even before the start of the match, upon entering the stage, Team Spirit faced pressure from the audience. However, the young squad remained unfazed, displaying remarkable composure. On Vertigo, they managed to come back from a 5-12 deficit. While they fell short of victory by just a couple of kills in the deciding rounds, everything seemed to favor FaZe that day. The tournament’s main favorites exited Denmark, while FaZe transformed from a team that barely made it to the playoffs into new frontrunners.
In the subsequent matches, Eternal Fire could only challenge NAVI on the first map, but, frankly speaking, they didn’t appear as strong afterward. After defeating three Major champions in the group stage (Vitality, FaZe, Virtus.pro), different players stepped up for the team. However, the team lacked their previous vigor and aggression, leading to their defeat.
The last match in this stage was between G2 and MOUZ. MOUZ initially lost on Inferno, then faltered on Vertigo, a map where they had a 100% win rate. Following this match, it seemed like G2 found their rhythm, and nobody remembered their lackluster performance in the group stage. Another Danish captain, HooXi, drew energy from the arena and acted with great confidence. The arena’s support revitalized the Kovac brothers, who also didn’t resemble themselves in the Elimination Stage. The match itself wasn’t memorable, but the moment when a fan rushed onto the stage was discussed by almost everyone. Fortunately, the organizers quickly subdued the intruders, and no one was harmed, except for the broken trophy.
Semifinal Among Former Major Champions and G2.
The semifinals featured three teams that had recently lifted the main trophy in Counter-Strike and were eager to do so again – G2. By then, we had already bid farewell to Team Spirit and MOUZ, whom many expected to meet in the final. But despite this, the atmospheres were so intense and electrifying that no one remembered the departure of the favorites. It all started anew.
Unfortunately, the first match didn’t live up to expectations. It seemed like all the teams’ energy and emotions were left on the first day of the playoffs, and we witnessed default CS with plenty of mistakes and little intrigue. The teams secured their respective map picks, and on the decisive Inferno, FaZe had the upper hand.
The second semifinal turned out to be extremely intense. These teams had often clashed before, and their matches always attracted a large audience. For Aleksib, it was important to prove that G2 had underestimated him as a captain, while m0NESY always geared up differently for games against his native organization and his friend from NAVI Junior – bit.
After the teams won on their opponents’ picks, the decisive Ancient was much tougher. G2 stumbled at the start of the second half, trailing 6-12. But in the last round, the Kovac brothers decided to display aggression, which backfired completely, allowing NAVI to advance to the final.
First CS2 Major Winners: FaZe or NAVI?
We’ve seen this matchup in many finals, including the PGL Major Antwerp 2022 final. Back then, FaZe Clan was head and shoulders above, while from that NAVI lineup, only bit and Blade remain on the team.
NAVI approached this match as clear underdogs, and everyone knew that defeating karrigan’s team on their home turf would be extremely challenging. However, in reality, we got a lackluster final, where two maps ended with scores of 2-13 and 13-3, and the only Danish player in the final managed to secure only one kill on the decisive map.
NAVI’s victory in the first CS2 Major raised many questions. Nobody feels that they were the best team in this tournament. Two players from this roster, Aleksib and iM, made it to the top 10 worst players. Only one player from the team made it to the top 15 best players of the tournament – jL, who also became the MVP, ranking seventh in the individual ratings. NAVI won less than 50% of rounds across 18 played maps, and these are not all the anti-records from the tournament champions in Copenhagen.
Questions remain about s1mple, as it’s now unclear whether he will return to the main lineup or if he’ll have to find a new home to continue his career. Blade managed to prove to everyone that insane individual skill is not necessary for victory, and their partnership with the Finnish captain is capable of winning major titles.
Final Prize Distribution for PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024:
NAVI – 1st place $500,000
FaZe – 2nd place $170,000
G2 – 3-4th place $80,000
Vitality – 3-4th place $80,000
Team Spirit – 5-8th place $45,000
Cloud9 – 5-8th place $45,000
MOUZ – 5-8th place $45,000
Eternal Fire – 5-8th place $45,000