As a devoted fan of Counter-Strike for over a decade now, I’ve witnessed the ebb and flow of teams, the rise and fall of legends, and the birth of new stars. The RMR cycle, with its nail-biting qualifiers and unforgettable moments, has been an integral part of this journey. But as Valve ushers in a new era with direct invites based on rankings, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia.
With the conclusion of the RMR cycle, we’re entering a new chapter. Valve has declared that, commencing in 2025, the RMR competitions will transition to being exclusive invitational events based on team rankings.
The team list for the Shanghai Major is set!
In June 2025, the BLAST Austin Major will pioneer a fresh competition format, inviting the top 32-ranked teams. This decision has stirred mixed emotions among players and fans during the Shanghai Major qualifiers, with some feeling ecstatic while others endured heart-wrenching disappointment. The concluding Regional Minor Rankings (RMRs) did not disappoint, offering all we hoped for. Let’s delve into them to discover which teams have secured their spots from each region.
Asia: A Close Call for FlyQuest, Heartbreak for DRILLAS
Qualified Teams: The MongolZ, Rare Atom, FlyQuest
In the final stages of Asia’s RMR competition, FlyQuest managed to secure a spot in Shanghai with a nail-biting performance. They first triumphed over DRILLAS in an exhilarating three-overtime match, and then defeated Lynn Vision. DRILLAS, a team supported financially by renowned German streamer Mark “ohnePixel” Zimmermann, were close to making their Major debut and etching their logo into the game as stickers. Regardless of their impressive performance, their journey ended in sadness, underscoring the harsh realities of qualifier tournaments.
Americas: Familiar faces, but M80’s Major dreams dashed once again
Qualified Teams: Complexity, FURIA, Liquid, MIBR, paiN, Imperial, Wildcard
In the qualifying rounds for competitions across the Americas, strong teams such as Liquid, FURIA, and Complexity clinched their places. Liquid make a return, having missed out on the Copenhagen tournament. A remarkable feat for their restructured in-game leader, Russell “Twistzz” Van Dulken. The performance of M80 left spectators speechless. Guided by German stars Elias “s1n” Stein and Fritz “slaxz” Dietrich, the team failed once more in a crucial 7th-place match. This is the second time in 2024 that M80 has missed a Major due to a final-decider match, having encountered a similar setback during the Copenhagen Major qualifiers earlier this year.
Europe RMR A: Falcons miss out again despite star power
Qualified Teams: Natus Vincere, FaZe Clan, Vitality, MOUZ, Cloud9, fnatic, Gamer Legion
In the European RMR A tournament, an intriguing blend of established powerhouses and up-and-coming talents was showcased. Teams such as Natus Vincere and Vitality confidently claimed their spots, but the biggest surprise was the persistent struggles of Falcons. Even after bringing on board Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev in September, the team failed to qualify once more. A series of underwhelming performances has prompted another roster change, resulting in Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer, Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, and Pavle “Maden” Bošković being benched. The Falcons are now focusing on a rebuilding phase for 2025, with high expectations for Nikola “NiKo” Kovač’s arrival. The renowned Major-winning organization fnatic has returned, having failed to qualify for Copenhagen earlier this year.
Europe RMR B: Astralis falters, BIG is finally back
Qualified Teams: BIG Clan, 3DMax, G2, Heroic, Virtus.pro, Spirit, Passion UA
Europe’s RMR B tournament saw some surprising developments, with one of the most notable being Astralis falling short in their bid for a fourth consecutive Major appearance. Known as a titan in the CS:GO scene with four Major titles under their belt, Astralis has been grappling to find their footing in the new era. The anticipation was dampened due to the absence of Nikolai “device” Reedtz, who was replaced by Alexander “br0” Bro as a temporary player. However, Astralis’ struggles starkly contrast Heroic’s success – they managed to secure their spot in the tournament despite parting ways with two key players, Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard and Martin “stavn” Lund, who were later acquired by Astralis at the end of 2023. And after a two-year hiatus, BIG Clan has made their comeback in a Major tournament.
The Shanghai Major signifies the last tournament during the period of RMRs (Regional Major Rankings), serving as a tough LAN-qualifier stage for teams to showcase their skills. Emotions ran high with heartaches, victories, and unexpected occurrences, adding to the intense drama that only Counter-Strike can provide. With the Valve ranking system set to take effect in 2025, the competitive CS scene will undergo a transformative change. However, for now, attention is solely focused on Shanghai, where these 24 teams compete fiercely for the ultimate victory.
What do you think? Who will be crowned Major-Champions in Shanghai, come December 15?
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2024-11-25 20:09