Image: Perfect World Esports
After dominating the scene for most of 2024, NAVI end the year with a disappointing 9th-11th place exit from the Shanghai Major.
Reigning Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) Major champions 
Natus Vincere (NAVI) are no longer able to defend their title in the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024. NAVI failed to qualify for the Shanghai Major Playoffs after losing to 
HEROIC in round five of the tournament's Elimination Stage on Sunday (December 8).
NAVI were one of the biggest favourites to claim the second-ever CS2 Major title, having won the first in the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 back in March, as well as three other championships from the Esports World Cup 2024 in July, ESL Pro League Season 20 in September, and Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2024 in October.
While NAVI bombing out of the BLAST Premier World Final 2024 served to temper expectations somewhat, many still expected the reigning Major champions to be among those battling for the trophy in Shanghai.
NAVI earned their spot in the Shanghai Major through the tournament's European Regional Major Ranking (RMR) A event, though a loss to 
MOUZ in round three there served as early signs that there were already cracks in the team's form.
NAVI started their campaign in the Shanghai Major proper well enough by scoring a 13-10 win over 
Team Liquid in round one. However, they were then defeated by 
MIBR, 13-11 in Inferno, in round two. At the time, many saw that loss as NAVI simply falling victim to an unlikely upset – but with hindsight it may have been the first sign that the reigning Major champions were not playing to their usual level.
If it wasn't already apparent that NAVI were underperforming in round two, round three made it look clear as day. In arguably the most one-sided map of the entire Major so far, 
Team Spirit stomped NAVI to the tune of a 13-2 lead in what was supposed to be the latter's signature map pick at Mirage. With a 1-2 record through the first three rounds of the Elimination Stage, NAVI were in real danger of not even making the Shanghai Major Playoffs to defend their title.
Galvanized by that loss to Spirit, NAVI seemed to have righted the ship as they swept 
GamerLegion in Nuke (13-6) and Mirage (13-9) to survive round four of the Elimination Stage. That gave the reigning Major champions one last chance to qualify for the Playoffs, but they will first have to go through a HEROIC squad hungry to qualify for their first CS2 Major Playoffs.
NAVI's Shanghai Major run ended early by HEROIC
NAVI's final match of the Shanghai Major Elimination Stage didn't have an auspicious start as HEROIC picked the series opener to be at Mirage, the same map where Spirit clobbered the reigning Major champions. And just like their last disastrous stint at Mirage versus Spirit, NAVI were bulldozed by HEROIC, 13-3, to start the series.
However, NAVI showed signs of life in map two at Nuke, where they ended a dominant first half with a 10-2 lead as the T side before winning the map 13-5 to force the series to a decider. 
Igor “w0nderful” Zhdanov notably sparked NAVI's comeback in Nuke, finishing with 19 kills and four assists on 11 deaths.
Ancient then played host for the deciding game three, with NAVI on the CT side building an early 5-1 lead behind a 4K by w0nderful in round 2 and a clutch defuse by 
Ivan “iM” Mihai in round 5. However, HEROIC managed to rally and force the first half to end with both sides in a 6-6 deadlock.
HEROIC carried their momentum into the second half by winning the first three rounds. But in round 16, iM clutched an eco one-versus-three that sparked three-round run for NAVI that tied up the score at 9-9 by round 18.
But that was everything NAVI could muster, as HEROIC responded with four-straight rounds to close out the 13-9 victory in Ancient and deny NAVI a spot in the Shanghai Major Playoffs. After a fiery start to the year, NAVI will end 2024 with a whimper as they exit the Shanghai Major in 9th-11th place and with $20,000 in consolation.
The CS2 Perfect World Shanghai Major is the second-ever Major Championship for CS2, and will feature 24 of the best teams from all across the globe gunning for the lion's share of a $1.25 million prize pool, as well as the prestigious right to be called CS2 Major champions. The tournament is split into three distinct stages: the Opening Stage from November 30 to December 3, the Elimination Stage from December 5 to 8, and the Playoff Stage from December 12 to 15.
For everything you need to know about the CS2 Perfect World Shanghai Major, check here.
