After an incredible day of Counter-Strike at the PGL CS2 Major 2024, we have our finalists for the first every CS2 Major! Four teams were at loggers head to grab hold of a spot in the grand final of the biggest CS2 tournament to date. While two were all smiles at the end of Day 3 of the Playoffs, two were sent back home packing. Read along as we take a deep dive into the two semi-final games that were played in Copenhagen on Saturday –
The winners of the last CS:GO Major, Vitality, faced off against FaZe Clan, who had won the CS:GO Major held in Antwerp in 2021. Tensions and expectations were riding high, as two of the most talented in teams in CS took to the stage at the Royal Arena in the first semi-final of the PGL CS2 Major 2024. The proceedings started with the two teams locking horns on Nuke, picked by FaZe.
With a 13-7 win, the team showed why they had picked this map over others in the veto phase. It was a genuine team effort from FaZe, with the hometown hero, Finn ‘karrigan’ Andersen, calling the shots and leading his team to a comfortable win. However, Vitality had other plans, and were not going to succumb to the momentum built by FaZe with a win on the first map of the first semi-final of the PGL CS2 Major 2024.
Come Vertigo, the map pick of Vitality and Dan ‘apEX’ Madesclaire and his men, made sure that the Golden Hornets got worth of their money. After sweeping the first half of the game 11-1, the men in yellow and black, ended the map 13-5 in their favour, equalising the Best of Three (Bo3) series. Now, it was time for the decider map, Inferno. The winner of this map, would claim a spot in the Grand Finals of the PGL CS2 Major 2024.
When the occasion called, Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard, the star fragger from FaZe, who generally goes under the radar thanks to his ruthless kills on the server, but a rather muted and smiling personality off it, rose to the occasion and showed who the boss is. He led the charge for FaZe, as they raced to a 13-8 win.
FaZe had done what the home crowd had been rooting for. They had secured a place in the grand finals of the first-ever CS2 Major! After a rather tumultuous run in the Elimination stage, it was commendable to see how karrigan was able to rally his troops when the occasion called for it, and lead them into the finals.
Now, it was time for a rather recent, yet legendary rivalry to take centre stage. The second semi-final of the PGL CS2 Major 2024 was set to be played between G2 and NAVI.
After the heartbreak in the Grand Finals of the 2022 Stockholm Major, where NAVI pipped G2 to take the crown, the men in black were out opt get revenge. However, NAVI, led by former G2 player, Aleksi ‘Aleksib’ Virolainen was in no mood to succumb to the challenge. In the very first map, which was picked by G2, Anubis, tensions flared.
The match was fairly well balanced to say the least. With both sides securing eight rounds wins each in the first and second half, it was time for OT (over time). The first signs in G2’s defences had shown up in the closing stages of the regulation game time, as they let a couple of easy-round wins slide through into the lap of NAVI. NAVI, with a firm belief of making the place in the finals theirs, capitalised on the momentum that had shifted in their favour going into OT, and won the map 16-13. One step closer to the finals of the PGL CS2 Major 2024.
With Nuke, picked by NAVI rolling in as the second map of the series, and the momentum siding with them, a 2-0 finish to this map series looked very much on the cards. However, G2 were also equally determined to get that spot in the Grand Finals of the PGL CS2 Major 2024! They comprehensively beat NAVI, ending the map with a scoreline of 13-7 in their favour. The star of the show for G2 in this match was their wonderchild AWPer, Ilya ‘m0NESY’ Osipov, who dropped 23 frags on the map.
As it was in the first semi-final game of the PGL CS2 Major, the game went into the third, decider map, which was Ancient. Now, it would be harsh to say that G2 did not play well here. However, it was Aleksib and his men where able to rise to the occasion when it mattered. NAVI’s ace rifler, Justinas ‘jL’ Lekavicius took matters into his own hands and swept a 13-11 win and a spot in the Grand Finals of the PGL CS2 Major 2024, from right under G2’s nose.
At the end of Day 3 of the playoffs of the PGL CS2 Major 2024, taking place in Copenhagen, we had two teams left standing, with their eyes set on the prize.
After two weeks of putting up an exhibition of the best CS2 action that you could ask for, the PGL CS2 Major 2024 has only one game remaining – the Grand Final – which is to be played between NAVI and FaZe. Having tasted victory recently at the Major, albeit with slightly different rosters, both the teams will go for the hail mary shot at winning their second Major title.
FaZe are at the top of the world rankings at the time of writing, and after beating G2, and performing the way that they did the earlier stages of the tournament, NAVI’s challenge also looks strong. If you were to ask me, the scales look slightly tilted in favour of FaZe for me at the moment. With a section of NAVI’s roster inexperienced when it comes to playing on the big stage, FaZe definitely look to be in a better position. In matches like these, as it has been proven time and again, the team that is better able to handle the pressure takes home the win. And, with that philosophy in mind, if you were to ask me, I would pick FaZe as my favourite to win the trophy.
Now, come match day, what happens, no one can predict. However, one thing is certain, the battle to the PGL CS2 Major 2024 trophy will be hard fought for either of the teams.
To check out all of our coverage of the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen, check out this page.
