Spirit upset by FURIA: Shanghai Elimination Stage round one recap
The real Major has finally begun as the big boys have now entered the fray over in China.
The Perfect World Shanghai Major Elimination Stage has now kicked off, but it wasn’t a perfect start for all of those big teams as a couple fell in upset games against teams from the Opening Stage.
Let’s go over the action from round one.
NAVI best Liquid
Liquid went 3-0 in the Opening Stage, but they couldn’t carry their momentum forward into their first game in the Elimination Stage.
You can’t blame them really, they came up against possibly the world’s best team in NAVI, and they fought valiantly as they only fell 13-10 on Nuke.
NAF starred for Liquid, a welcome performance after a difficult Opening Stage, but he was outshone by w0nderful, who went 24-14.
Photo: Michal KonkolThe MongolZ snatch win against G2
One of the favourites to win the whole thing, G2 will now have to climb back from being a map down in the Swiss stage as they fell 13-10 to The MongolZ
A match contested on Inferno, the Mongolian team started well with an 8-4 T half and managed to convert despite G2 fighting back
The MongolZ have been having a great time in Shanghai so far, and that continued for Senzu in this game with a 20-12 statline.
Photo: Stephanie LindgrenVitality comfortable against GamerLegion
GamerLegion have been in good form since clawing their way back from 0-2 down in the RMR, but they were stopped in their tracks by Vitality.
A relatively comfortable 13-7 for the BLAST.tv Paris Major winners, the MVP of that event, ZywOo, starred as he went 24-9.
Fought on Mirage, it’s been a strong map for GL so far, but the scoreline shows how strong the teams entering the competition really are.
Photo: Stephanie LindgrenFURIA get huge upset win over Spirit
Look away Spirit fans, your teams opening game was one of the most one-sided in round one, and it didn’t go the way of Spirit.
donk, of course, did everything he could to prevent that, he was the only player to go positive for Spirit as FURIA took Dust2 13-6.
chelo top-fragged with 19, but the entirety of the FURIA squad had their moments as they all ended the map with a positive KD.
Photo: Micahl KonkolMOUZ sweep paiN aside
There was another 13-6 scoreline in round one of the Elimination Stage, but this one actually went the way of the favourites.
Fought on Nuke, MOUZ made their presence known thanks to a 9-3 CT half.
Young star Jimpphat topped the scoreboard, he ended the map 19-9.
Photo: Stephanie LindgrenFaZe avoid upset to Wildcard
Wildcard have been a phenomenal upset team so far in this Major cycle, but they couldn’t pull off another heroic victory as FaZe managed to get the better of them in their first game.
A 13-10 on Ancient, it could have easily been very different if not for rain. The veteran Norwegian ended the game with an incredible 25-8 statline.
frozen and ropz also had big performances, they combined for an additional 43 kills.
Photo: Michal KonkolHEROIC pick up confident win over BIG
HEROIC are one of the dark horses coming into the competition, and they showed exactly why we they picked up a confident win against BIG.
The Germans, despite decent performances from JDC and Krimbo, were simply outclassed by HEROIC as they fell 13-7 on Mirage.
TeSeS top-fragged for the international squad, his 19 kills just put him ahead of NertZ and kyxsan, who both had 18.
Photo: Stephanie LindgrenMIBR start strong against 3DMAX
FURIA weren’t the only Brazilian side to kick off the Elimination Stage with a win, MIBR also started strong as they took down 3DMAX.
The closest game of the round, the French team fought hard, but eventually they fell 13-11 on Vertigo.
Ex3rcice was the highest fragger on the server with 22, but the combined 41 from Lucaozy and saffee was enough to give MIBR the win.