Although TheMongolz are on a three-game winning streak after advancing from the opening stage, the teams they were beating are not on the same level as this Natus Vincere squad. Expect the favourites to win well.

MOUZ and ECSTATIC last met in the PGL Major Copenhagen Europe RMR, where the former won rather easily, 13-8. Therefore, we will be taking the favourites to cover the round line.

Team Vitality and Eternal Fire will be one of the better matches of round one, and even though esports betting sites seem to think differently, it should be a close contest.

Virtus.pro will put their six-game win streak on the line against a shaky Imperial in their opening match of the Major. After the Brazilians struggled to close out best-of-one maps during the opening stage, the favourites should have little to no trouble winning this one.

PaiN Gaming earned qualification for the elimination stage off the back of two dominant wins over ENCE and SAW. Complexity will need to be on their game if they want to record a round one victory against an in-form paiN.

FaZe Clan and Heroic have played close matches throughout the last few years, and with both teams at the peak of their powers coming into the Major, we expect nothing different here.

G2 Esports were one of the more impressive performers at the Europe RMRs, while FURIA had to survive three straight elimination matches in the opening stage. G2 will win this clash to set themselves up nicely going into round two.

Two of the Major favourites with Counter-Strike betting sites will kick off their elimination stage campaigns when Team Spirit take on Cloud9. This best-of-one will be very close, so betting on the overs in the total rounds market looks like the play.

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Eternal Fire advances to the Elimination Stage after an edge-of-your-seat series against GamerLegion! The battle was fierce, but EF emerged victorious! #PGLMAJOR " pic.twitter.com/lxD36D0Oz0

— PGL (@pglesports) March 19, 2024

Engin “?MAJ3R?” K��peli expressed mixed emotions after the series, acknowledging the team’s subpar performance while also emphasizing the importance of winning Counter-Strike series even on off days.

Despite struggling early on Overpass and Mirage, where they faced a staggering 23-round losing streak, Eternal Fire managed to rally and secure crucial victories.

Their comeback was fueled by a sense of disrespect when GamerLegion called a timeout, igniting a hunger for redemption going into Inferno.

This map proved to be their stronghold, with Ismailcan “?XANTARES?” D?rtkarde? leading the charge in a dominant performance to secure a 13-2 map win.

The series reached its peak excitement on Vertigo, where both teams showcased their prowess.

Ultimately, it was key plays from XANTARES and Ali “?Wicadia?” Haydar Yal??n that secured Eternal Fire’s victory, despite a tense final round.

GamerLegion, though not eliminated, now sits in a precarious 2-2 position, awaiting further results to determine their fate in the tournament.

In another match, paiN secured their elimination stage berth with a convincing 2-0 (13-10, 13-7) victory over SAW, thanks in large part to Rodrigo “?biguzera?” Bittencourt’s standout performance.

paiN triumphs over SAW in a two-map series (2-0), clinching their spot in the Elimination Stage !

An incredible performance that propels them forward. #PGLMAJOR pic.twitter.com/Pk8CDnYTUX

— PGL (@pglesports) March 19, 2024

Their success highlights their exceptional T-side play and ability to outclass top-tier opponents.

On the other hand, SAW’s momentum faltered as they suffered consecutive defeats, putting them at risk of an embarrassing exit from the Major.

ECSTATIC also secured their place in the elimination stage with a 2-1 (13-4, 10-13, 13-9) victory over Imperial.

ECSTATIC progresses to the Elimination Stage with a triumphant 2-1 victory over Imperial !

Imperial will fight tomorrow for their chance to remain in the tournament#PGLMAJOR pic.twitter.com/ROqhLveY8C

— PGL (@pglesports) March 19, 2024

Despite being considered underdogs, ECSTATIC’s solid gameplay and strategic depth propelled them to success, led by standout performances from Tobias “?kraghen?” Kragh Jensen and Magnus “?Nodios?” Olsen.

Imperial, on the other hand, struggled to match their opponents’ tactical prowess, highlighting a need for improvement in their strategic approach.

Meanwhile, Lynn Vision, Apeks, and ENCE were all eliminated from the Major after suffering their third loss of the opening stage.

Wednesday’s matches

• Legacy (-112.36) vs TheMongolz (-112.36) @ 1pm CEST
• Imperial (-102.04) vs GamerLegion (-123.46) @ 4pm CEST
• SAW (+102) vs FURIA (-128.21) @ 7pm CEST

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After suffering their first loss of PGL Major Copenhagen, Eternal Fire will attempt to qualify for the elimination stage for the second time against GamerLegion. With both teams ranked inside the top 15 in the world, this contest will be close, and all three maps are very likely to be seen.

The all-Asian clash between Lynn Vision and TheMongolz will be a rematch of the upper-bracket final of the Asia RMR, which TheMongolz won easily. With both of their Major lives on the line, it is expected that TheMongolz claim victory in two maps here.

Legacy will face Apeks in one of the most intriguing series of the day, as the former has struggled against European Counter-Strike teams, and the latter has struggled against Brazilian squads throughout the opening stage. This contest is too close to call, so betting on the overs in the total maps market looks like the play.

SAW’s 11-series win streak was snapped by Cloud9 on day two, while paiN Gaming destroyed ENCE in a best-of-one match. Expect SAW to kick off another win streak here with a dominant victory.

ECSTATIC and Imperial are set to play the match of the day as both teams strive to advance to the elimination stage. Both squads have shown good signs in previous series, so expect a tight three-map thriller.

ENCE and FURIA have been two of the most inconsistent high-profile teams during the opening stage, and it is hard to tip either squad with confidence in the final series of the day.

Esports betting tips

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Both teams bring solid form into their opening match of the Major, and we expect to see a close game between Cloud9 and ECSTATIC.

Although Eternal Fire enters this match as a red-hot favourite, The Mongolz have shown improvement on the world stage in recent times, therefore, we will be taking the underdogs at the handicap.

The betting says otherwise, but the ENCE vs Imperial clash has the potential to be one of the closest matches of the day. We will be taking the overs in the total rounds market.

Apeks appears to be one of the safer bets of the opening day, as they clash with paiN Gaming, who were one of the last teams to qualify for the Major. We anticipate a dominant win by Apeks.

9 Pandas and AMKAL played out a close three-map series in the Europe RMR last month, with two of the three maps covering the 21.5-round line; therefore, the overs look like a great bet here.

Esports betting sites have got this one right. Heroic should dominate Lynn Vision here if the world number 12 thinks they have any chance to contend for the Major.

FURIA and Legacy will meet in an all-Brazil clash, with both teams putting their three-game win streaks on the line. These matches are normally very tight, so we will be taking the overs in the total rounds market.

SAW will put their nine-match win streak on the line against KOI, and we believe the favourites can extend that streak to 10 with a victory here.

Esports betting tips

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With a remarkable display, they dropped only five rounds in their initial best-of-one clashes against NRG and M80, followed by a convincing 2-0 (13-5, 13-4) victory over paiN Gaming.

Imperial is headed to PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024 after an incredible victory over paiN on two maps – Mirage and Nuke!

paiN isn't out yet; they'll return tomorrow for another shot at making it to Copenhagen! #PGLRMR pic.twitter.com/gNh64xUOmI

— PGL (@pglesports) March 3, 2024

Their journey to the Major marked a significant comeback for seasoned star AWPer Henrique “HEN1” Teles, who had not participated in a Valve-sponsored event since Krakow 2017 with Immortals, where they secured a second-place finish.

HEN1’s career has seen ups and downs, including a peak in 2020 with FURIA and subsequent challenges in maintaining tier-one status, but he returned with an impressive 1.62 rating to lead Imperial’s charge into the PGL Major Copenhagen.

Imperial showcased their dominance right from the start, swiftly punishing paiN’s decision to allow them to choose Mirage as the opening map.

Led by HEN1 and supported by standout performances from Jo?o “felps” Vasconcellos and emerging talents like Kaiky “noway” Santos and Lucas “decenty” Bacelar, Imperial secured an 8-1 lead and eventually closed out Mirage convincingly.

Nuke, paiN’s pick, also proved to be a stronghold for Imperial, as they surged to a commanding 9-1 lead with HEN1 delivering standout performances once again.

Elsewhere, FURIA secured their seventh consecutive Major appearance by defeating Complexity 2-1 (13-10, 13-16, 13-7).

Led by Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato’s stellar performance, FURIA demonstrated resilience and stability throughout their matches.

FURIA is the second team to qualify for PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024 after its series against Complexity

A 2-1 victory and they are on their way to Denmark #PGLRMR pic.twitter.com/QOvVZyOAlB

— PGL (@pglesports) March 3, 2024

Meanwhile, Complexity faced disappointment yet again as they were denied by FalleN’s FURIA squad, relegating them to the 2-1 pool for a crucial matchup against Liquid.

Despite facing initial seeding challenges, Complexity put up a fight, particularly with standout plays from H?kon “hallzerk” Fj?rli and Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski, ultimately securing a hard-fought victory on Vertigo.

Monday’s Americas RMR matches

• paiN Gaming (-250) vs ODDIK (+187) @ 10am CST
• M80 (+103) vs Legacy (-129.87) @ 1pm CST
• Complexity (-114.94) vs Team Liquid (-109.89) @ 4pm CST

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The Counter-Strike player became a part of paiN in February 2019 alongside former teammate Rodrigo “?biguzera?” Bittencourt. The news ends PKL’s 53-month stint with the organisation following a poor run in recent events.

In a Twitter post, paiN bid the in-game leader farewell shedding light on their multiple achievements over the years.

“there is no better image for this moment than the first mug we raised together,” paiN wrote.

“it was 4 years of many unforgettable titles, stories and plays carrying our mantle. It’s a journey that makes us proud and I’m sure it inspires many new talents out there. thank you for each game, captain, you are GIANT!”

PKL initially took some time away from paiN’s active lineup in February due to personal, physiological, family, and psychological issues. He revealed that during the hiatus, he intended to talk to a psychologist and a physiotherapist about a spine issue affecting him.

PKL shared a post responding to paiN’s farewell message on Sunday, thanking the team for their remarkable moments together.

“After more than 4 years representing paiN, it’s time to say goodbye. There were several remarkable moments, several trips and many titles. I will be forever grateful for everything everyone has done for me, from the fans to the organization’s entire board. Thank you so much for everything,” PKL wrote.

The IGL is set to join Fluxo as the team makes a major roster overhaul. Former paiN player Romeu “?zevy?” Rocco will also sign with the Brazilian organization in addition to RED Canids player Henrique “?t9rnay?” Menacho.

With PKL on the lineup, paiN won multiple domestic titles in the South American region. After the team moved to North America at the start of 2020, paiN won a number of CS:GO competitions, including the DreamHack Open January 2020, Electronic Sports League Challenger Melbourne, ESL Challenger League Season 41 NA, and the CBCS Invitational 2022.

The team also recorded impressive results following PKL’s hiatus earlier this year. They notably placed No. 13 on the world ranking and qualified for the BLAST.tv Paris Major and the ESL Pro League Season 17 playoffs.

paiN were, however, eliminated in the early stages of the tournaments and did not fare well in following events. This likely contributed to the decision to revamp the lineup and release the team’s benched players.

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According to the tournament operator, paiN��s decision to withdraw from the Counter-Strike event was due to a player��s inability to attend. As a result, Complexity will attend the LAN competition in their place.

��Due to a member of @paiNGamingBR being unavailable for IEM Cologne, the Brazilians have opted to withdraw from the tournament,�� the update read.

��As per our rulebook we will be replacing them with @Complexity, the next highest ranked team in the ESL World Ranking.��

Complexity, currently the highest ranked North American team, were given the next available place in the IEM Cologne 2023 in accordance with the ESL rule book. The team are the next highest-ranked squad in the ESL World Rankings and will begin their tournament run from the Play-in stage. Their current seeding is still being determined.

The IEM Cologne 2023 Play-in will feature 16 teams facing off against each other for a chance to compete in the main event. The first phase of the tournament will kick off on July 26 and last three days. It will feature top teams like Apeks and Liquid as well as FURIA, Fnatic, and Astralis.

Only eight teams will join the main event in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany, which boasts a prize pool of $1,000,000.

Complexity will join the event as the only North American representative. The team will first attend the BLAST Premier Fall Groups on July 13 before moving to Germany for the LAN event.

The IEM Cologne Play-in list currently includes the following teams:

�� Monte
�� fnatic
�� Astralis
�� MOUZ
�� FURIA
�� 9INE
�� Liquid
�� Apeks
�� Grayhound
�� BIG Academy
�� Imperial
�� Into the Breach
�� Ninjas in Pyjamas
�� FORZE
�� Complexity
�� TheMongolz

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In a Twitter post, NEKIZ revealed that he had been benched for the second time and asked interested teams to reach out to him.

“Today, I’m going back to the bench,” NEKIZ started.

“I believe the team has other ideas for the next season, with a big change to the core. I am open to BR and EU proposals.��

Prior to the move, Dust2.br reported that paiN wanted to bump up academy player, C��ssio “cass1n” Santos, to the main lineup and sign Fluxo player, Lucas “lux” Meneghini. paiN��s decision to bench NEKIZ is rumored to be the first in a long line of roster changes.

NEKIZ initially started playing with paiN in December 2019 and was a part of the team for more than two and half years. He was eventually moved to the inactive roster and replaced with Felipe “?skullz?” Medeiros who is still with the team.

NEKIZ remained on the bench for seven months before moving on with O PLANO for a short two months stint. During this period however, the player was still contracted to paiN and was called to rejoin the starting roster in February this year in place of Vinicios “?PKL?” Coelho.

pic.twitter.com/38AjS9IbWv

— Gabriel Schenato (@nekizcs) June 22, 2023

In his second stint with paiN, NEKIZ helped the team secure solid international placing, and eventually peak in 13th place on the world ranking. The team reached a playoff finish in the Electronic Sports League Pro League Season 17 and finished in second place in the BLAST.tv Paris Major Americas RMR.

paiN��s performance eventually dropped and the team finished with a disappointing 2-3 placing in the Paris Major Challengers Stage. They also failed to qualify for the Gamers8 2023 following a loss to ATK in the event��s open qualifier.

paiN ended their initially impressive season with a last-place exit at the ESL Challenger Katowice 2023. The poor ending to the season likely led to paiN��s decision for a roster overhaul.

Fluxo is reportedly targeting three paiN players which include Romeu “zevy” Rocco, Vinicios “PKL” Coelho, and Wesley “hardzao” Lopes. If the deal pulls through, the CS:GO team will be left with only two players Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt and Felipe “skullz” Medeiros.

paiN will likely sign Fluxo��s lux and cass1n from their academy lineup to fill the player gaps. The team will need to make the final changes to their lineup before the IEM Cologne Play-In, which will start on July 25.

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That leaves us with six teams and only three spots in the Legends Stage up for grabs in the final CS:GO Major.

The first three series on Wednesday featured the six outfits that were facing elimination, with TheMongolz vs Monte and GamerLegion vs OG kicking off the day with best-of-three series, followed by Complexity vs Team Liquid.

TheMongolz put up a good fight against Monte, but the latter side found a way to win the big rounds and secure a hard-fought 2-0 victory to send the all-Mongolian roster packing and set up a final-day matchup with paiN Gaming.

Many people would have had OG getting out of the Challengers Stage, but the world no.11 ran into a very determined GamerLegion roster and ended up losing 1-2.

The third of the elimination series was a grudge match between Complexity and Team Liquid, with one North American organisation set to go home while the other lived to fight another day.

Liquid as the world no.6 came into the series as overwhelming favourites, and they delivered with a quick 2-0 victory (16-11, 16-3).

The promotion clashes featured FaZe Clan and Apeks, who lost their 2-0 pool matches yesterday, with Ninjas in Pyjamas, forZe, Grayhound and paiN Gaming joining them in seeking a spot in the Legends Stage.

From the three series, FaZe Clan, Apeks and Ninjas in Pyjamas earned promotion, with FaZe and NiP winning 2-0 and Apeks defeating paiN Gaming 2-1 in a tough series that went the distance.

We now move on to the final day of the Challengers Stage, where all three matches are both elimination and promotion series between the remaining six teams.

Day 4 matches – May 11, 2023

• forZe (-175.44) vs GamerLegion (+125) @ 10:30 BST
• Monte (-175.44) vs paiN Gaming (+125) @ 14:30 BST
• Grayhound (+350) vs Team Liquid (-625) @ 18:30 BST

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The BLAST.tv Paris Major commenced as all CS:GO Majors do, with the Challengers Stage and a 16-team Swiss system, and day one featured the opening two rounds of best-of-one series.

Coming into the Challengers Stage, G2 Esports, FaZe Clan and ENCE were installed as the three top teams according to the HLTV power rankings, and those teams didn��t disappoint, winning all of their matches to go straight into the 2-0 pool.

Joining those three teams will be the surprise packet of day one, Apeks, who defeated one of the pre-tournament favourites with esports betting sites in Team Liquid (16-12), before going on to become just the second team to record a flawless 16-0 victory at a CS:GO Major, thrashing Grayhound.

On day two, Apeks will face G2 and ENCE will clash with FaZe, with the winner of each best-of-three series earning their way into the Legends Stage as the ninth and 10th seed, respectively.

At the other end of the spectrum, world no.7 Team Liquid and world no.11 MOUZ fell into the 0-2 pool and will be facing elimination on day two when they take on fellow winless teams GamerLegion and Fluxo.

The first of the elimination matches will take place on Tuesday, with Fluxo taking on Team Liquid and GamerLegion clashing with MOUZ as the final two matches of round three.

In helping G2 to their current 2-0 record, Ilya ��m0NESY�� Osipov was easily the player of the day, recording event-highs in overall rating (1.82), kill/assist participation (88.5%), average damage per round (109.7) and impact (1.93).

The star AWPer from Russia produced the best performance of the day against Complexity, where he carried his team to a 16-9 win on the back of 34 kills and nine deaths, earning a massive rating of 2.23 for the match.

Going into day two, eyes will be firmly on the last four best-of-three series, where we will find out who will be promoted to the Legends Stage at 3-0 and who will be sent packing at 0-3.

Below is a list of round three fixtures to kick off day two:

• 1-1 pool

  • Complexity (+120) vs paiN Gaming (-163.93) @ 10:30 BST
  • Grayhound (+100) vs TheMongolz (-125) @ 10:30 BST
  • forZe (+150) vs Monte (-200) @ 12:00 BST
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas (-111.11) vs OG (-125) @ 12:00 BST

• 2-0 pool (promotion series)

  • Apeks (+275) vs G2 Esports (-400) @ 13:30 BST
  • ENCE (+150) vs FaZe Clan (-200) @ 13:30 BST

• 0-2 pool (elimination series)

  • Fluxo (+550) vs Team Liquid (-1000) @ 17:30 BST
  • GamerLegion (+175) vs MOUZ (-250) @ 17:30 BST

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