We’ve got a feeling that this Major might end up being a little more open than everyone expects it to be.

The stage might be set for Vitality to add to their trophy cabinet, but it’s never that simple in Counter-Strike, is it? How we get to anyone else winning the event, we don’t know. But we do have some hot takes from our crew that might just fit together like a puzzle:

“Vitality go out early.” - Ty ‘simba’ Sherback

We’ve seen favourites fall before. Spirit were eliminated in the PGL Copenhagen quarter-finals and NAVI didn’t even make it to the arena in Shanghai… but still, Vitality out early? That’s a hard one to accept.

“Falcons go out in the quarter-finals.” - Ethan ‘fl0wz’ Rogersen

Looks like Vitality aren’t the only team we have a lack of faith in. Ethan is predicting that NiKo’s Major curse will have followed him over to another organisation, and the World’s number two will be out in the quarter-finals.

We like NiKo, but we can’t pretend it wouldn’t be at least a little bit funny.

So if Vitality or Falcons won’t be winning the Major, who will? Our pod editor macc has the hottest take:

“HEROIC will win it all.” - macc

Yeah, we’re sorry, macc. You’re insane. That said, you’re not the only one with faith in HEROIC.

“HEROIC will make it to the playoffs” - Sam ‘AN1MO’ McKenzie

Now this one is a little more realistic, and it feels like a fitting end to what could have been one of the biggest dark horse teams for the second half of the year.

It seems none of us can come to an agreement on how the Major is going to go for The MongolZ. Elliott has no faith in them at all.

“The MongolZ go 0-3.” - Elliott ‘aizyesque’ Griffiths

Really? This take might be as cold as macc’s. On the flipside, dickle is expecting big things from The MongolZ… and that’s not the only Asian team he’s optimistic for.

“Chinggis Warriors to make playoffs, The MongolZ to make the final.” - Michael ‘dickle’ Shorte

Right… Well, we don’t really know what to say to that one, but Logan seems pretty supportive of it.

“The MongolZ will be in the final against a random Stage 2 team. It’ll be just like PGL Krakow, but we’re not ready to have that conversation yet.” - Logan ‘M3CHAT0NIC’ Ramhap

This feels a lot more solid as a prediction. Chinggis Warriors? We’re not getting over that one for a while.

And finally, Logan has high hopes and no hope for two of the American competitors: “Wildcard make it to the playoffs, NRG go 0-3.” - Logan

At least the home crowd will have something to cheer about.