After months of waiting the first CS2 Major is finally upon us, with 24 teams having made their way through the grueling qualification process and booking themselves a spot at the $1,250,000 event. All squads in attendance had to fight through the bracket at their respective RMR (Regional Major Ranking) events, where numerous rosters from around the world tried their best to advance to the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen.
Despite the RMRs being solely qualification tournaments, they are one of the most important events of the year, especially for the organizations. Qualifying for the Major nets the best CS2 teams a share of the profits from in-game sticker capsules, with the amounts assumed to be in the millions of dollars range, which is life-changing money for most players.
On this page, we’ll take a closer look at the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 teams and outline their strengths, weaknesses, and win conditions coming into the biggest CS2 event to date.
Teams Qualified to the Elimination Stage
FaZe
FaZe are undoubtedly the most consistent team in CS2, having reached the final of every event they attended in the new game. They advanced through the RMR without trouble, dropping only a single series to G2. With the quality of players on the roster and the heaps of big-match experience they possess, FaZe are an excellent pick to lift the trophy, when partaking in PGL Major Copenhagen betting.
- Region: Europe
- Key Player: Robin “ropz” Kool
- Best Map: Nuke
- Biggest Quality: Experience
Vitality
The reigning Major Champions have a good shot at defending their title, seeing that their form in CS2 has remained fairly high. Vitality struggled at the beginning of 2024, however, with the caliber of players on their roster, including one of the best CS2 players in the world Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, they will surely bounce back in Copenhagen and be one of the main candidates for winning the title.
- Region: International
- Key Player: Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Best Map: Anubis
- Biggest Quality: Experience
Spirit
Spirit will undoubtedly be among the most popular PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 teams when people watch PGL Major Copenhagen. The Russians have been a revelation coming into 2024, having won IEM Katowice 2024 in spectacular fashion, dropping only a single map. The sky is the limit for these five players.
- Region: CIS
- Key Player: Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Best Map: Mirage
- Biggest Quality: Firepower
MOUZ
Despite losing their star player to Faze at the tail end of 2023, MOUZ remained competitive and are among the favorites to make a deep run in Copenhagen. After a semi-final berth at IEM Katowice 2024, the young squad will be eager to replicate that feat and establish themselves in the Counter-Strike elite.
- Region: International
- Key Player: Adam “torzsi” Torzsas
- Best Map: Ancient
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
G2
Among the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 teams, G2 is a wildcard. The international team’s form fluctuates up and down on an event-to-event basis, so it’s difficult to predict how they’ll fare in Copenhagen. However, if they hit their stride, they have the individuals to take it all the way.
- Region: Europe
- Key Player: Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Best Map: Vertigo
- Biggest Quality: Star power
NAVI
Although NAVI is not among the most exciting PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 teams, they tend to get the job done more often than not. The international roster has been together virtually since the start of CS2, so they developed their playbook and teamwork to a point, where they are a constant threat.
- Region: Europe
- Key Player: Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy
- Best Map: Overpass
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
Virtus.pro
The IEM Rio Major Champions are back to their best and they are one of the dark horses to win it all in Copenhagen. Apart from their slip-up at IEM Katowice, Virtus.pro have been in red-hot form and they look poised to make their return to the top of the competition.
- Region: Russia
- Key Player: Evgenii “FL1T” Lebedev
- Best Map: Ancient
- Biggest Quality: Playstyle
Complexity
Complexity are the sole representatives of the North American region at the Major, having defeated Liquid in their deciding RMR bout. Despite that fact, they’ve been looking quite shaky as of late, with only Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski pulling his weight. Unless the rest of his teammates step up, Complexity could face an early exit in the Elimination Stage.
- Region: NA/International
- Key Player: Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
- Best Map: Vertigo
- Biggest Quality: Star power
Teams Competing in the Opening Stage
ENCE
Nobody expected ENCE’s Polish and Danish fusion roster to do as well as they have. With wins against Vitality and G2 under their belt, as well as an IEM Katowice 2024 quarter-finals berth, the international squad is outperforming the sum of their parts. Time will tell if that continues at the PGL CS2 Major.
- Region: Poland/Europe
- Key Player: Olek “hades” Miskiewicz
- Best Map: Anubis
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
Cloud9
Much like with G2, you never know which Cloud9 will show up. Depending on their form, the Russians can either bomb out of the Opening Stage or make the playoffs without breaking a sweat. That’s why they will be one of the most interesting PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 teams to watch.
- Region: CIS
- Key Player: Sergey “Ax1Le” Rykhtorov
- Best Map: Anubis
- Biggest Quality: Firepower
Eternal Fire
After years of battling in the Tier Two scene, Eternal Fire are ready to make the next step and establish themselves as a Tier One roster. The Turks have a great mixture of young talent and experience on their team, which should bode well for their chances at the PGL CS2 Major.
- Region: Turkey
- Key Player: Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dortkardes
- Best Map: Nuke
- Biggest Quality: Firepower
HEROIC
It’s remarkable how quickly Heroic managed to turn things around, following their implosion in late 2023. Their new international lineup has gelled together extremely well and looks very dangerous, even against the world’s best teams. They could be ones to surprise in Copenhagen.
- Region: Denmark/International
- Key Player: Guy “NertZ” Iluz
- Best Map: Mirage
- Biggest Quality: Experience
Apeks
The BLAST.tv Paris Major semi-finalists will be lucky to come even remotely close to replicating their feat from the prior year. However, they still have one of the more experienced rosters, which should play in their favor, when facing one of the many Major debutants in the Opening Stage.
- Region: Europe
- Key Player: Tim “nawwk” Jonasson
- Best Map: Anubis
- Biggest Quality: Experience
FURIA
Despite being the best Brazilian team for half a decade, FURIA continues to struggle to make a lasting impact on the international scene. Their performances outside of the Americas haven’t been anything to write home about and advancing to the Elimination Stage should be the extent of their success in Copenhagen.
- Region: Brazil
- Key Player: Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato
- Best Map: Nuke
- Biggest Quality: Playstyle
SAW
Right after SAW went 0-2 at the RMR, they went on an absolute rampage and demolished everyone in their way before securing PGL CS2 Major qualification. Then, they ran the gauntlet in the BLAST Spring Showdown and booked themselves a spot at the Spring Finals in London. If they keep up this streak, they might become the surprise of the Major.
- Region: Portugal
- Key Player: Rafael “arrozdoce” Wing
- Best Map: Nuke
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
9 Pandas
Denis “seized” Kostin makes his return to the Major together with 9 Pandas, after five years of battling on the sidelines with Russian mixed teams. Given that they made it to the Major through the LCQ, they have tremendous mental fortitude, which is a great asset to have when playing so many high-pressure games.
- Region: Russia
- Key Player: Aleksandr “glowiing” Matsievich
- Best Map: Mirage
- Biggest Quality: Experience
*Note – Due to travel issues for some of the 9 Pandas players, they failed to make it to the Major and have been replaced by GamerLegion. Check out our overview of the team below.
TheMongolz
TheMongolz are undisputedly the best team in their region, having run through the Asia RMR without breaking a sweat. Numerous top teams have stumbled against the Mongolians before, and they are in a prime position to cause some upsets and make Mongolia’s deepest-ever run at the Major.
- Region: Mongolia
- Key Player: Munkbold “Senzu” Azbayar
- Best Map: Ancient
- Biggest Quality: Playstyle
AMKAL
After defeating Falcons in an elimination game at the RMR, AMKAL should have all the confidence they need to make an impression at the Major as well. However, the field may be too strong for the Russians to break through and advance to the Elimination Stage.
- Region: CIS
- Key Player: Kaisar “ICY” Faiznurov
- Best Map: Mirage
- Biggest Quality: Star power
KOI
Many people expected KOI to become irrelevant, following their star AWPer’s Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia’s departure. But KOI kept at it, built a new Iberian roster, and qualified for the biggest event of the year, which will likely be the extent of their success.
- Region: Europe
- Key Player: Alejandro “mopoz” Fernandez Quejo
- Best Map: Inferno
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
ECSTATIC
In a shocking turn of events, ECSTATIC are the only full Danish team at their home Major. With Astralis and Preasy falling in the RMRs, it is on them to make their countrymen proud. Although, they have already done that, by qualifying to Copenhagen in the first place.
- Region: Denmark
- Key Player: Magnus “Nodios” Olsen
- Best Map: Nuke
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
Imperial
Imperial were undoubtedly the most impressive team in the Americas RMR, losing only 14 rounds in four maps. Despite that fact, it’s a mystery as to how they’ll perform against European opposition, so expectations for the Brazilians might have to be tempered slightly.
- Region: Brazil
- Key Player: Joao “felps” Vasconcellos
- Best Map: Overpass
- Biggest Quality: Experience
Legacy
Although Legacy consists of some familiar names such as Marcelo “coldzera” David and Eduardo “dumau” Wolkmer, the Brazilians are one of the weakest teams in attendance at the Major. That’s why they’ll be a lot of people’s 0-3 picks in their PGL Copenhagen Major predictions.
- Region: Brazil
- Key Player: Eduardo “dumau” Wolkmer
- Best Map: Ancient
- Biggest Quality: Star power
paiN
paiN is in a similar boat to Legacy, where they struggle to be competitive outside of local competition. With qualification to the Major being their main goal, they are also one of the safer picks for the 0-3 spot in your predictions, albeit paiN should have the edge over Legacy in a head-to-head matchup.
- Region: Brazil
- Key Player: Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt
- Best Map: Inferno
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
Lynn Vision
Lynn Vision’s Major qualification marks China’s return to the CS2 elite, after nearly 3 years away from the spotlight. While the Chinese squad shouldn’t trouble any of the big boys, they could cause some damage to lesser opponents, especially in the Opening Stage.
- Region: China
- Key Player: Lizhi “Starry” Ye
- Best Map: Anubis
- Biggest Quality: Firepower
GamerLegion
After a shocking turn of events, GamerLegion have made it to the Major. Due to the short turnaround between the announcement and their first game at the tournament, they might not have been practicing very hard before the event. With that in mind, practically any positive results will be a win for the European side.
- Region: Europe
- Key Player: Frederik “acoR” Gyldstrand
- Best Map: Overpass
- Biggest Quality: Teamwork
Betting Odds
With the Major being the biggest event of the year, it makes the perfect time to partake in CS2 betting on the most hype games in all esports. Several betting websites provide outright and per-match bets on the PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen, with GG.Bet being one of them.
According to GG.Bet, Vitality (2.3) are the favorites to take the Major trophy home, closely followed by Spirit (2.5) and FaZe (2.8). Other teams worth looking at in this instance include Virtus.pro (5.5) and G2 (7), as both teams are capable of running the bracket and leaving Copenhagen as Major Champions.
As for the opening matchups, both GG.Bet and Thunderpick offer bets on the Opening Stage matches. Some of the more interesting games include ENCE vs Imperial, Eternal Fire vs TheMongolz, and Apeks vs paiN, where bettors may consider backing the underdogs (Imperial, TheMongolz, and paiN, respectively).
