Don’t you feel empty inside after an unforgettable Major? We certainly do.

CS is love, CS is life.

But don’t you worry, the first post-Major Tier 1 competition is just around the corner.

With a $250,000 prize pool, IEM Chengdu is set to host a rounded cast of powerhouses, like FaZe, G2, and Cloud9, alongside a bunch of relatively unproven contenders, in Wildcard, Steel Helmet, and FlyQuest.

As for the opening-round matchups, we’re keeping an eye on a handful of promising games.

Arguably one of the most anticipated duels will see Team Liquid take on Heroic, as cadiaN faces his former squad after departing the Danish organization due to “differing visions for the future of the team”. Something tells us the trash talk in this game is going to be wild.

The North American organization will also be aiming to leave a strong impression in Chengdu, especially after a disappointing RMR run that saw them miss out on CS2’s first Major.

Steel Helmet vs. Astralis is also shaping up to be an interesting matchup, as it marks the debuts of both br0 and IGL dev1ce. Juggling both IGL and AWP roles is no small feat. Will one of the greatest players in the game be able to rise to the challenge?

On another note, the Aussie Avengers are set to make their debut under the FlyQuest banner, facing none other than Cloud9. Though matchup for the former Grayhound boys.

It wouldn’t be a Tier 1 event without some hiccups, right? Well, this time Monte pulled a 9Pandas (visa issues) and was unable to travel to China, being replaced by hometown heroes Steel Helmet.

All in all, we’re gearing up for some great Counter-Strike action in Chengdu starting today. And being in China, it means most games happen early morning EU and late night US.