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Counter-Strike Esports World Cup Playoffs preview
The CS2 Esports World Cup started strong for the powerhouses without any upsets. Although some underdogs fought the hard battle, it wasn’t enough to secure a spot in the Playoffs.
The format of the EWC is a breath of fresh air for the scene with how straightforward it is. As a reminder, the winners from the first round qualify for the Playoffs. At the same time, the losers ends in the “resurrection” stage, for one last spot in the Playoffs.
As a result, the Playoffs bracket is stacked with electrifying matches across the board. Notably, the head-to-head between Danil "donk" Kryshkovets and Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov in the third quarterfinals.
Playoffs bracket
G2 vs Team Spirit
G2 Esports vs Spirit is the highlight series of the quarterfinals, with two of the current best players in the world locking horns for the first time. During the first round, we got a glimpse of a new G2 under Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski's leadership. Although his level wasn't the best, he paved the way for the star players to shine and have monstrous performances.
Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa in his first appearance in the G2 jersey impressed with sharp shooting across the series netting a substantial impact and the victory over The MongolZ. On the flip side, Team Spirit will enter the server as the favorites considering their triumph at the BLAST Premier Spring Final. Moreover, one of the focal points in their recent success, donk, will have to outclass both Nikola "NiKo" Kovač and m0NESY if the G2 duo were to perform on the same standard as the previous BO3.
However, considering how inexperienced the new G2 roster is, Spirit is expected to have the upper hand in the series and clinch a spot in the semifinals.
FaZe vs NAVI
Although FaZe Clan has been the undisputed champions since the dawn of CS2, their latest results were unsatisfying with shaky performances during the last two tournaments. But, since fatigue was their primary reason behind the setbacks, the player break should bring FaZe Clan back on track to their winning ways.
NAVI, on the other hand, with mishaps of their own hinted at early roster changes. However, with their Major success story in Copenhagen, some players received a second chance at redemption. Unfortunately, Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen’s men blew their chance out of the water with mediocre performances at ESL Pro League Season 19 and IEM Dallas with 9th - 12th finishes.
Realistically, the chances of the PGL Copenhagen Major grand final playing out the same way again are extremely slim. And despite NAVI looking formidable against FURIA in their opening series, the current FaZe Clan is of a different caliber.
Vitality vs Virtus.Pro
Virtus.Pro's chances of upsetting Team Vitality are about as slim as the odds of humans walking on the moon again. Not to undermine their efforts, but reality proves so. The CIS Major winners are a hard nut to crack, especially with how strong their lineup looks on paper. And with the addition of Denis "electroNic" Sharipov, they were supposed to become a title-contending team. Yet, results show otherwise.
The only similarities these two teams have are the V letter in their name and choking tournaments. Yes, the Bees are by far the favorites to win in the quarterfinals. However, based on their recent tournament history, their run will end prematurely.
With Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut continuing to impress, as witnessed against M80 with 100 ADR, 78.6% KAST, and 22 K/D difference their victory is almost guaranteed.
Although their fate remains a prediction and speculation, their next opponent is either G2 or Spirit, whom they tasted elimination by twice in the last two events before the player break.
MOUZ vs FURIA
MOUZ closed out the first half of the year and ranked as the third-best team in the world, thanks to a series of impressive performances. Under the leadership of Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek, they created quite a stir, defeating powerhouses G2 and Spirit in two grand finals.
Despite dropping a map to Sashi Esports in their opening series, MOUZ showcased their resilience, reverse-sweeping the Danish team to secure a playoff spot against a determined FURIA.
On the other side, FURIA navigated their way through the resurrection stage, defeating FlyQuest, Sashi Esports, and The Mongolz. With their recent addition, Felipe "skullz" Medeiros, holding his own, there's a potential for an upset. However, MOUZ remains the favorite.
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