The summer break in CS2 is coming to an end, and the Esports World Cup continues in Riyadh, with Counter-Strike 2 taking center stage from July 17 to 21. With 15 pro teams competing, fans can expect intense action and thrilling showdowns. Our Counter-Strike 2 World Cup 2024 preview article will serve as a guide for you.
This tournament marks the first CS2 Esports World Cup in the renewed format compared to Gamers8 2023, a significant milestone for the Counter-Strike community. The five-day tournament will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a staggering $1,000,000 prize pool up for grabs, with the victorious team will claim a massive $400,000 grand prize.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | Counter-Strike 2, Esports World Cup 2024 |
| 🧾 Format: | CS2 LAN S-tier tournament with 15 teams and a few stages |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Boulevard Riyadh City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
| 🗓️ Dates: | Wednesday, July 17 – Sunday, July 21, 2024 |
The tournament structure consists of three stages. The Opening stage features single-elimination best-of-three (Bo3) matches between fourteen professional CS2 teams. Winners at this stage will advance to the playoffs, and losers move to the Play-in stage.
This last chance stage will follow a single elimination best-of-one (Bo1). JiJieHao, the MENA CQ winner, will join other teams at this stage to compete for a spot in the knockouts. The Playoffs stage is a single-elimination best-of-three (Bo3) format.
EWC CS2 has a $1,000,000 prize pool, just like the Gamer8 2023 Counter-Strike tournament. Tournament winners will receive a $400,000 prize, while second-place teams will receive $175,000.
Most Esports online betting sites have offered outright odds for potential winners of this event. The top five teams have the following CS2 Esports World Cup 2024 odds to win this tournament:
Team Spirit secured their spot in this competition thanks to their win at the IEM Katowice 2024 tournament. That victory propelled them to be named favorites for subsequent tournaments. However, they have struggled to replicate their Katowice form. A runner-up placement at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 followed a fifth-place finish at the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024. They also managed a third-place showing at Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024.
However, a recent resurgence culminated in a triumphant run at the Blast Premier Spring Finals. Thanks to their performance in that contest, they are now ranked No. 1 on HLTV rankings for the first time. This upward trajectory positions them as strong contenders for the CS2 World Cup title. You can bet on 2024 CS2 World Cup with this option at odds of 3.75 (11/4).
Despite boasting one of the greatest CS players of all time, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Vitality has encountered a relatively dry spell regarding tournament wins. While securing consistent top placings in major competitions, their last championship victory dates back to December. Their most notable achievements this year include second-place finishes at the ESL Pro League Season 19 and Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024.
Nevertheless, with a strong track record of top-four appearances in five consecutive tournaments, Vitality remains a potential title contender. Their consistent performance solidifies their position as one of the top five favorites heading into the Counter-Strike 2 WC 2024.
FaZe has experienced a rollercoaster season marked by high and low points. After narrowly missing the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 title, they swiftly rebounded with a championship victory at Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2024. Before these events, they secured a runner-up finish at IEM Katowice 2024.
Still, they have failed to live up to this exciting performance. In their last three outings, FaZe has finished fifth on all occasions. These tournaments cover ESL Pro League Season 19, Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024, and BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024. Despite occupying a fourth-place position in the HLTV rankings, their inclusion among the top contenders is primarily due to their earlier strong showings.
MOUZ has exhibited significant inconsistency throughout the season. Their triumphs at the ESL Pro League Season 19 and BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024 showcased their potential as championship contenders. However, their performances at Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024 and the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 raised questions about their ability to sustain high levels of play.
Despite their relative youth as a team, overcoming this inconsistency will be crucial in determining their success at the CS2 World Cup. They will be strong contenders for this title if they can rewind their spring form and team consistency.
Natus Vincere (NAVI) will be eager to prove that their PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 victory was no fluke. While they were absent from IEM Chengdu 2024 and failed to advance past the group stage at IEM Dallas, their recent second-place finish at the BLAST Premier Spring Finals indicates a return to form.
A championship win in Riyadh would significantly bolster their status, and they are undoubtedly motivated to achieve this goal. With odds of 7.00 (6/1), several low-deposit sites consider NAVI a strong contender for this title after the summer break and good bootcamp.
Here are our 2024 Esports World Cup predictions for this event:
1 (50%)
(50%) 1
Vitality has consistently reached the latter stages of tournaments but still needs a championship trophy this year. This drought will undoubtedly motivate them to claim their first title of the year in Riyadh. Boasting the unparalleled talent of Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, they possess the firepower to achieve this goal and replicate their Riyadh success in 2023.
Nonetheless, improving William “mezii” Merriman’s performance will be crucial to any talks of a potential title challenge. Vitality’s team dynamic has indeed changed since their last Major triumph. Yet, their ability to consistently perform at a high level makes them a formidable opponent. Given their abilities, we expect a determined Vitality squad to be a strong contender for the CS2 World Cup title.
1 (50%)
(50%) 1
Current IEM Katowice 2024 champions, Team Spirit, have the ability to make a deep run in this tournament and reach the finals. The CIS organization continues to enjoy success this year despite having two very young players. So far, they have reached four finals this year and played in six semi-finals in total, a strong record for any competitive CS2 team. Their team boasts able competition to everyone with the names like Danil “donk” Kryshkovets and Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov.
Although there are concerns that other teams have figured out how to stop young prodigy Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, we expect him to up his performances and become more unpredictable. Given their strong showing so far, Team Spirit are our favorite to reach the final, and they have Counter-Stirke 2 best odds for this market.
2 (100%)
0
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets has been a standout performer for Team Spirit. While opponents appear to have developed strategies to counter his exceptional talent, the fast-paced nature of this tournament could provide an opportunity for him to regain his dominant form. Team Spirit’s favorable group stage position, requiring only one win to advance, could limit their match exposure, allowing “donk” to remain fresh and focused.
With a 1.33 rating, 0.89 kills per round, and an impressive 55.6% headshot percentage over the past three months, “donk’s” statistics highlight his immense skill. Thu,s it is not surprising that several CS2 predictions for Esports World Cup support this outcome. His performance places him among the frontrunners for the HLTV MVP award, even if Spirit doesn’t win the tournament.
2 (100%)
0
Despite several questions about their new roster, G2 should win this matchup convincingly. They have made deep runs in all of their last sixth competitions, with their lowest ranking being 7th at the BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024. Their best performance so far this year saw them clinch the Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2024. Although it is difficult to predict how their new roster will affect their performance, we still expect them to defeat MongolZ in this encounter. G2 Esports have odds of 1.55 (5/9) to win this match and qualify for the knockout stage of this competition.
Here are our selected 2024 CS2 World Cup betting tips for this tournament:
Given the consistency in their recent performances, Team Vitality are in a prime position to win their first title of the year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. If they can secure a strong start, we expect them to go all the way. As the tournament commences on July 17, feel free to use our betting predictions for CS2 2024 World Cup to wager on this competition.
