MongolZ, Vitality advance to Shanghai playoff stage

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