Understanding the CS2 Shanghai Major Pick’Ems
In the world of competitive Counter-Strike, the CS2 Shanghai Major presents a unique opportunity for fans to engage deeply through the Pick’Ems challenge. This interactive feature allows participants to predict outcomes of the tournament, with successful predictions earning them coveted in-game rewards. However, this year’s Shanghai Major has upped the ante, proving to be more challenging than ever.
The Structure of the CS2 Shanghai Major
The tournament is split into two key phases: the Opening Stage and the Elimination Stage. The Opening Stage follows a Swiss System competition, leading into single-elimination playoffs. Participants can make predictions, or Pick’Ems, throughout these stages. Correct predictions upgrade a player’s in-game Coin, which in turn can be exchanged for Souvenir Tokens. These tokens unlock exclusive skins, provided you’ve purchased a viewer pass.
How to Participate in Pick’Ems for the CS2 Shanghai Major
To join the Pick’Ems challenge, players must first purchase a viewer pass. The basic pass costs $10, but a premium option at $18 includes three Souvenir Tokens. Once you have the pass, you can access the Major hub within CS2’s menu, where you’ll find the option to make your predictions. Here, you’ll drag and drop team logos into different categories based on your predictions for their performance.
Best Strategies for the Opening Stage Pick’Ems
Selecting Teams for a 3:0 Victory
Choosing teams for a perfect 3:0 score is always risky, as even a single loss can derail your prediction. This is particularly challenging in the Swiss rounds, which are conducted in a best-of-one format. For this Major, teams like Virtus.pro and Complexity are favored for a clean sweep due to their favorable initial matchups against MIBR and FlyQuest. Other strong contenders include Team Liquid, FURIA Esports, and The MongolZ.
Picking Teams to Advance with Losses
For the 3:1 and 3:2 categories, the goal is to identify teams that are likely to progress despite some setbacks. FURIA and Liquid are recommended due to their strong rosters, albeit with some inconsistency. Matches against GamerLegion and Cloud9 could pose challenges, so these teams might drop a game or two. BIG and The MongolZ are also solid picks, offering potential but with unpredictable performances. FlyQuest and Cloud9 round out the recommendations, although their inconsistency makes them less certain choices. Alternatives like Fnatic, MIBR, or GamerLegion are also viable.
Identifying Teams Likely to Go 0:3
Selecting teams to finish with a 0:3 score can be difficult, as underdogs often pull off unexpected victories. However, Rare Atom and Wildcard are considered the weakest links due to inexperienced rosters and poor seeding, which could lead to tough matchups. Similarly, Passion UA or Imperial might also end the stage winless.
Preparing for the Elimination Stage
As the Opening Stage concludes, attention will shift to the Elimination Stage, where predictions will become more refined. Until the outcomes of the Opening Stage are known, further Pick’Ems cannot be made. It’s a waiting game, but a strategic one where early predictions set the stage for later success.
Conclusion
The Perfect World CS2 Shanghai Major is a test of both skill and strategy for fans. By carefully selecting their Pick’Ems, participants can demonstrate their expertise in the CS2 esports scene while earning valuable in-game rewards. Whether you’re aiming for a Diamond Coin or just participating for fun, understanding the nuances of each team and their matchups is crucial. As the competition unfolds, the thrill of the unpredictable nature of esports keeps fans engaged and on the edge of their seats.
