Now that the most exciting part of the Major cycle is over – and gone for good - we (partially) know the lineup of teams set to kick off their Major journey in the Opening Stage, on November 30th.

Unfortunately, due to a mid-RMR rule change by Valve, we’ll have to wait for today’s ranking update to get the full picture of the teams in the first stage – and, consequently, those assigned to the Elimination Stage.

That said, we can still take a look at the teams confirmed for the Opening Stage, all vying for one of the 8 spots in the next stage.

Considering their RMR performances, our safest bets to make it through are Liquid and The MongolZ, with perhaps a little faith in BIG and Cloud9 as well.

Honestly, predicting this Opening Stage is tough. Some teams had an easier path to securing their Major spot than others, so it’s hard to know exactly what to expect. We’re looking at you, BIG and Cloud9.

Now, there’s a group of teams we’re particularly curious about, as we’ll see how they fare against opponents from regions they’re not as accustomed to facing. We’re talking about Wildcard, FlyQuest, fnatic, GamerLegion, and, of course, the revelation of the RMR, Passion UA.

As for the Brazilian teams – FURIA, Imperial, paiN, and MIBR – this Opening Stage is looking promising. There's a real chance we could see one or even two teams from the region make it through to the next stage.

Disclaimer: In no event shall TLDR be held liable for any frustrated attempts to reach the Diamond Coin. Follow these predictions strictly at your own risk.