Prediction for the American RMR Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024: Favorites and Top Contenders
The American regional qualifiers are traditionally designed to highlight the best teams from North and South America. Unlike Asian teams, these squads may struggle more with adjusting to the time zone and the unfamiliar CS2 version from Perfect World. Tournaments in Asia are rare, so the LAN environment could put significant pressure not only on less experienced teams but also on regular Tier-1 event participants. This will likely be one of the most competitive RMR tournaments, as there are no clear server authorities in this region. With a fiery and straightforward style of Counter-Strike focused on shooting skills and morale, surprises are guaranteed. Confident predictions are challenging, but we are still ready to share our thoughts on the outcomes of this qualifier.
Tournament Format
Thanks to the strong performance of teams from the Americas in the last Major, this year, they’ve been allocated 7 slots in the Opening Stage. Previously, one of these slots granted direct entry to the Elimination Stage, but now all direct spots in the “Legends” stage have been reserved for European teams. Unlike the Asian RMR, the American teams will compete for stickers in a Swiss-system format. This traditional format provides more opportunities for each team. The teams advancing to the next stage will be those with records of 3-0, 3-1, or 3-2, so let’s look at who might qualify. One final note: after the Swiss system, there will be three teams with a 3-2 result. At this point, the VALVE rating will intervene (with the higher-ranked team taking 6th place, while the final slot will be contested between 7th and 8th place).
Main Favorites (3-0, 3-1)
It’s no secret that the American region is not in its prime, and many organizations have moved to Europe to train in a more competitive environment. Such teams will have an advantage, as they attend top tournaments more often, have more LAN experience, and greater confidence.
One of these teams is undoubtedly Team Liquid, who missed the first CS2 Major and can’t afford another similar failure. The team’s recent results have been underwhelming, but they have faced serious competition. Recent losses should keep the players humble and focused on this important tournament. The roster features top and highly experienced players who should have no trouble achieving the three wins needed for RMR.
Furia has been a consistent participant in VALVE events for seven consecutive tournaments and likely plans to keep that streak. This roster, featuring Brazil’s best players led by the legendary FalleN, currently ranks 10th globally. Even if they lose two random BO1 matches, losing three BO3s seems impossible, so they should at least secure 6th place ahead of other teams. The Brazilians are hoping for a confident 3-0, especially given the bracket suggests they’ll mostly face fellow Brazilians.
Our final favorite is the North American roster Complexity. This team consistently performs well in group stages, with no struggles from lower-bracket pressure or early losses. Their star player, ELiGE, has repeatedly shown his strength by defeating top teams nearly single-handedly. Interestingly, in the 2-0 match, they’ll likely face Liquid, and it’s tough to pick a winner. However, we’ll back Complexity’s chemistry, placing them in the 3-0 bracket and Liquid in the 3-1.
3:0 – Furia, Complexity
3:1 – Team Liquid
Contenders for Progression (3:1, 3:2)
The second half of 2024 has been exciting for several teams in this list. They’ve had chances to make their mark on the global stage, and at times, have done so impressively.
A prime example is paiN, a strong blend of experience and youthful talent. The young sniper nqz is just 19, while rising star snow recently turned 17. Led by the experienced biguzera, this team rarely exits early in tournaments. With a great atmosphere and synergy both on and off the server, they are a solid contender for a 3-1 finish.
Another team expected to advance to the Opening Stage is the Brazilian squad MIBR. They performed well in ESL Pro League S21 in September, finishing 3rd-4th, although they struggled at ESL Challenger Katowice. Like Liquid, this setback should refocus the players, pushing them to regain top form. In their home region, this team has always been relaxed, and their LAN experience will be a significant advantage over most opponents.
M80 had a similar trajectory in the fall of 2024. They performed well at EPL S21, finishing 1st in their group and placing 5th-8th among the top 32 teams worldwide. Though they struggled at ESL Challenger Atlanta, they recently delivered a solid series of online matches in North America and should be well-prepared for the RMR. While their roster lacks significant experience, the Swiss format allows room for error, making them a candidate for a top-7 finish.
As we mentioned, surprises are expected in this qualifier, so it would be strange not to make at least one bold prediction. Consider this a “fan prediction,” but Brazil’s top player coldzera and his Red Canids team have shown promising results. They’ve played many matches recently and attended several LAN tournaments. With a favorable bracket, this tournament could be a fitting “Last Dance” for the two-time Major winner and two-time World Best Player. With the new invite system, Marcelo David likely has limited chances to earn more stickers.
The Argentine organization 9z returned from their summer break as a completely different team than in early 2024. In June, they unexpectedly reached the IEM Dallas semifinals, showing readiness for Tier-1 competition. However, they’ve won only 28% of their matches over the last three months, which raises concerns given the modest level of competition. In regional clashes, especially in BO1 matches, anything can happen, so we included them in our list of potential contenders. This is a nod to their previous performances.
We’ll end our prediction with a wildcard team that recently made waves on the global stage. A fresh Argentine roster with a Uruguayan member reached the top 8 at the Thunderpick World Championship, only losing to European teams. BESTIA is very comfortable in their region, boasting a nearly 70% win rate over the last three months. Since RMR events rarely go without surprises, this team may play spoiler, potentially knocking out one of the above contenders. They recently defeated M80 twice in head-to-head meetings, so there’s no reason they can’t do it again in China.
3:1 – Team Liquid, paiN, BESTIA
3:2 – MIBR, Red Canids
Results
The Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 American RMR will take place from November 12 to 15, and here’s our final top-7 prediction:
3:0 – Furia, Complexity
3:1 – Team Liquid, paiN, BESTIA
3:2 – MIBR, Red Canids
