Counter-Strike Major Championship Qualifiers Begin in Copenhagen with Surprise Upsets

The road to the Copenhagen Major got off to a shocking start Tuesday as several European qualifying matches produced stunning upsets that have reshuffled the competitive landscape. Traditional powerhouses FaZe Clan and G2 Esports both suffered unexpected defeats, putting their Major championship dreams in serious jeopardy with elimination looming.\n\nIn the day's biggest surprise, Danish underdogs Heroic dismantled FaZe Clan 16-8 on Mirage, with 22-year-old rifler Martin 'stavn' Lund posting a phenomenal 1.47 rating and 26 frags. The performance marked a career-defining moment for stavn, who has been quietly building a reputation as one of Europe's most promising talents. FaZe, featuring star AWPer Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač, appeared disjointed throughout the match and struggled to find answers for Heroic's aggressive T-side executes.\n\nG2 Esports faced similar troubles against Polish squad ENCE, falling 16-12 on Ancient in a match that saw their usually reliable in-game leader Aleksi 'Aleksib' Virolainen finish with a disappointing 0.78 rating. ENCE capitalized on several crucial round wins in the second half, with Paweł 'dycha' Dycha stepping up in clutch moments to secure the victory. The loss puts G2 in the 0-1 pool, meaning they must win their remaining qualifying matches to avoid elimination.\n\nThe upsets continued throughout the day as Cloud9, the Russian-majority organization competing under their neutral banner, dominated Vitality 16-6 on Dust2. Cloud9's tactical approach completely neutralized Vitality's star-studded lineup, with rifler Dmitry 'sh1ro' Sokolov putting on a masterclass performance that included several spectacular spray-downs and clutch plays.\n\nNAVI remains the tournament favorite after a convincing 16-11 victory over Astralis, though the Danish squad showed flashes of their former championship form. Oleksandr 's1mple' Kostyliev continued his dominant form with 28 kills and several highlight-reel AWP shots that reminded everyone why he's considered the best player in the world.\n\nThe qualifying format allows teams two losses before elimination, but early setbacks create enormous pressure for traditionally strong organizations. FaZe and G2 will need to regroup quickly, as their next matches essentially become must-win scenarios. Team Liquid and MOUZ both advanced comfortably in their opening matches, setting up intriguing storylines for the remainder of the qualifying period.\n\nThe Copenhagen Major represents the first Major championship of 2026 and features a $2 million prize pool along with the prestigious Major trophy. Qualifying continues through Friday, with the main event scheduled for March 15-24 at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen, Denmark.