The PW Shanghai Main 2024 Grand Ultimate is right here, with Staff Spirit set to tackle FaZe Clan in a rematch of the IEM Katowice 2024 closing at the beginning of the 12 months. After an exhilarating Semi-Finals in Shanghai, we’re able to see what the largest recreation of the 12 months has in retailer.
We’re right here to speak you thru a few of the prevailing narratives of this matchup, in addition to our prediction for the large match forward.
FaZe Clan out to cleanse Grand Ultimate demons
In 2024, FaZe Clan have misplaced the 2 largest matches they performed in. They’ve been haunted by the Grand Ultimate losses at IEM Katowice 2024 and the PGL Main Copenhagen 2024 – one loss to Spirit, and one loss in a Main closing. Tomorrow, they’ve the prospect to train two demons in a single match, which ought to show to be further motivation coming into the PW Shanghai Main 2024 Grand Ultimate.
As these Playoffs have progressed, FaZe have appeared higher and higher. In the meantime, Spirit have wanted particular person brilliance to tug them out of the mud, time and time once more. FaZe will know there’s no higher probability to take dwelling their second-ever Main than in Shanghai.
donk’s exceptional rookie 12 months
Make no mistake – if Staff Spirit win tomorrow’s match and donk will get a Main on his second try, we’ve been witness to the best rookie 12 months of any Counter-Strike participant ever. That is in all probability true regardless, however victory within the PW Shanghai Main 2024 Grand Ultimate makes this really simple.
You solely need to look throughout to NiKo, the GOAT rifler nonetheless chasing the Main dream, to know what an unimaginable feat it will be for donk to safe this so early in his profession. When all the storylines of tomorrow’s match, that is arguably probably the most thrilling. Can donk safe Counter-Strike’s most vital prize in his rookie 12 months? Undoubtedly.
karrigan’s legacy because the GOAT IGL
When wanting on the GOAT IGL argument, it solely ever comes down to 2 gamers: gla1ve and karrigan. Whereas karrigan’s longevity throughout a number of rosters places him forward for many, detractors at all times prefer to level to gla1ve’s 4 Main wins. It’s the largest factor separating the 2 in the meanwhile.
If karrigan can lower this hole down to 2 Majors, most would agree that the stability suggestions in favor of FaZe’s talisman. He received’t be enthusiastic about it going into the PW Shanghai Main 2024 Grand Ultimate, however his legacy because the GOAT IGL could possibly be secured with a win right here.
The ultimate arguments for each groups
So we’ve appeared on the narratives, however who will truly win? At a minimal, we anticipate this one to be an in depth three-map affair. For Spirit, their workforce play hasn’t been at it this Main. They’ve primarily brute-forced their method by way of video games with sheer particular person brilliance. It’s potential to do that all the best way to a Main title, but it surely’s positively troublesome.
For FaZe, they appear to be peaking on the excellent second. The meme of “saving strats for Main Playoffs” virtually appears to be true of their case. The important thing right here is ropz. He has awoken through the Playoffs in Shanghai, dragging FaZe kicking and screaming by way of a number of maps that they in any other case would have misplaced. My coronary heart says Spirit, as a result of seeing donk carry a Main can be unimaginable. However my head says this FaZe run seems like future, they usually’ve bought an excessive amount of expertise at this degree to let this chance slip by way of their fingers once more.
Our prediction: FaZe Clan 2:1 Staff Spirit