The MongolZ and Team Vitality advanced to the champions stage at the Perfect World Shanghai Major with victories Friday in China.
Both teams improved to 3-0 in the elimination stage, with The Mongolz defeating Heroic 2-1 and Vitality sweeping MIBR 2-0 in their Round 3 high matches.
The elimination stage of the $1.25 million Counter-Strike 2 competition runs through Sunday in a Swiss System format, with the top eight teams reaching the playoffs and the bottom eight eliminated. Elimination and advancement matches are best-of-three and all other matches are best-of-one.
The winning team from the Dec. 12-15 playoffs will take home $500,000.
On Friday, Heroic opened with a 13-8 win on Mirage before The MongolZ pulled out a 19-17 overtime win on Anubis and a 13-6 victory on Ancient.
Vitality had a more comfortable time against MIBR, winning 13-3 on Mirage and 13-5 on Anubis.
BIG and Wildcard became the first two teams to be eliminated, with both finishing 0-3. In the Round 3 low matches, GamerLegion rallied for a 2-1 win over Wildcard and paiN Gaming also beat BIG 2-1.
Action continues Saturday in Round 4 with three high matches pitting teams that are 2-1 and three low matches among teams that are 1-2.
Round 4 high matches:
–G2 Esports vs. FaZe Clan
–MIBR vs. Team Liquid
–HEROIC vs. Team Spirit
Round 4 low matches:
–MOUZ vs. 3DMAX
–Natus Vincere vs. GamerLegion
–FURIA Esports vs. paiN Gaming
–Field Level Media