5 issues we realized from PGL Copenhagen CS2 Primary RMRs

A complete of 24 groups have certified for the PGL Copenhagen CS2 Primary following the realization of the RMR qualifiers.

Like with every RMR cycle, this month round, the qualifiers taught us a couple of issues concerning the shape of the CS2 esports scene. We witnessed implausible comebacks, Cinderella tales, and upsets—all of which define nowadays’s problems with the pro scene. 

Listed here are 5 issues we realized from the RMRs.

Superteams aren’t an fast recipe for good fortune

Let’s get started by means of breaking ill the elephant within the room: Superteams weren’t a assured recipe for good fortune in CS:GO, and neither are they in CS2.

Within the unedited switch window, a couple of organizations constructed their roster with superstars, which will have to have price them a quantity. Astralis, Liquid, and Falcons have something in usual—all of them introduced in numerous weighty names. Astralis were given stavn and jabii, Liquid received Twistzz, cadiaN, and skullz, year Falcons noticed an entire overhaul of its CS2 roster, with gamers like SunPayus and Magisk stepping in. Those groups may also all pass over the Copenhagen Primary.

At this level, it seems like not anything fresh since superteams have already made a historical past of failing on the largest occasions in CS:GO. Like maximum lineups, they want month and correct management in order out their complete doable, and it sounds as if, the Copenhagen RMRs weren’t the fitting month for them to take action.

Valve must replace its scores and RMRs layout

At the alternative hand, even though, the total blame shouldn’t remainder squarely on those famous person groups. They want to carry out at occasions like RMRs to motive some injury on the Primary itself. However you’ll’t support however really feel love it’s Valve’s, too, for now not updating its scores and Buchholz layout on the RMRs.

Groups collaborating within the qualifiers have been seeded in line with December’s scores that have been made straight away later the unedited switch window. Valve didn’t remember the hot third-party occasions like IEM Katowice 2024, and didn’t alter the scores correctly.

This resulted in skewed matchups, the place the most efficient groups needed to face every alternative for removing later shedding in the past a best-of-one competition. This came about to Complexity and Liquid, who confronted every alternative for survival later each have been defeated by means of FURIA, arguably the most powerful crew in Americas RMR, in a best-of-one. A counterargument might be made that those groups want to win in the event that they wish to be successful on the Primary. Future that is true, best-of-ones drop approach residue field for upsets, which brings us to the second one level: The layout of the RMRs wishes updating.

Both build all fits best-of-three or introduce a double-elimination bracket (particularly within the Americas). There must be some roughly exchange forward of the upcoming CS2 Primary in Shanghai—particularly since RMRs are pivotal within the ecosystem.

RMRs are essentially the most noteceable tournaments of the date

Having a Primary spot at the form makes RMRs lovely the most important. However there’s a 2nd aspect of the coin right here. The spot on the match comes along huge source of revenue from Decal gross sales. 

For lots of groups and gamers, the cash made out of promoting in-game Stickers was once crucial to surviving. The original numbers are case in point. BLAST Paris CS:GO Primary reportedly remodeled $110 million from sticky label gross sales. The Contenders pill—which featured groups like Liquid and FaZe—reportedly introduced in $4.5 million every for the organizations. 

With gargantuan cash at the form, it’s refuse miracle many organizations have their hands crossed that their rosters qualify for the Primary; to be at them in reality is a multi-million greenback too much. 

Moreover, an issue might be made about how orgs signal groups that experience fasten a place on the RMRs. As an example, later unusually shedding its core CS2 roster, ENCE signed a core from 9INE, which assured them an RMR look with out the want to play games in qualifiers. Future ENCE has been doing brilliantly around the board, one of these dangerous walk may have been made to build it to RMR. And, thankfully for the gamers and the org, they succeeded. 

Australian and North American CS are in unpriviledged shape

At the alternative hand, Grayhound’s failure to build it to the Primary was once temporarily adopted by means of its finish of operations. It displays how a lot the Australian group relied at the sticky label cash, particularly because the roster itself has 3 pivotal tournaments—IEM Chengdu, ESL Professional League Season 19, and IEM Dallas—covered up. The truth that a number one Australian org needed to stop operations later now not making it to the most important is a plenty observation concerning the shape of its CS2 scene, appearing it lacks the finances to live to tell the tale within the tide order.

Opposite to Oceania, year the cash flows in North The united states, the area nonetheless is a ways from being in a adequate shape. 8 North American squads attended the Americas RMR, the place 5 spots have been up for grabs. Most effective Complexity controlled to keep tickets to Copenhagen, with the excess 4 fasten by means of Brazilian groups. 

I don’t heartless to disrespect the Brazilian scene. Their groups performed brilliantly and deserve their tickets to Copenhagen. But it surely’s additionally a observation about NA’s CS, which has been criticized for an extended month. And it doesn’t appear to be the cruel grievance will finish anytime quickly.

The most productive groups stay unchanged

Extreme however now not least, let’s speak about the most efficient groups on the planet on the month of writing. Earlier than the RMRs and even IEM Katowice, it was once a conundrum to mention which squads have been important the race within the scene. There have been a quantity of applicants—Power, FaZe, G2, MOUZ, Spirit—however none stood out. The case remains to be the similar, even though those squads have confirmed they’re a real world-class govern 5 at this time.

Each and every went both 3-0 or 3-1 at their respective RMRs. Extra importantly, they did so in notable model. Power defeated their first two opponents 13-2 and 13-3. Spirit started their RMR progress with a 13-0 domination. To mention those 5 squads are the favorites to hoist the trophy in Denmark can be a real understatement.