CS:GO StarLadder Major Legends Stage Preview, Interesting Facts, and Match Schedule

Team Liquid is obviously the first name that comes to mind when discussing promising CS:GO teams. After all, we’re talking about the most dominant side in 2019. A side that’s won everything there was to be won this year… except for the Major.

This makes StarLadder Berlin the perfect chance to finally snatch the long-craved CS:GO Major Championship trophy!

Need I remind you, the last NA team to take a Major title was Cloud9 back in January 2018, after beating FaZe Clan in what was one of the best Major grand finals of all time. Fast-forward to late August 2019; Team Liquid stands as a central figure and by far the biggest favorite. Can they justify their status?

Well, if they can win their opening match against CR4ZY, I believe they’ll get the morale boost they need to snowball to the Champions Stage. EliGE has been in terrific form lately, and the rest of the boys in blue aren’t too far behind either.

At the moment, Team Liquid is the epitome of both individual and team-based brilliance. Their in-game strats are second to none, and their map pool can surprise even the most versatile of teams.

Still, their opening match against up-and-coming CR4ZY will pose as a proper baptism by fire early on. If the boys in blue can start their StarLadder Berlin Major on the right foot, I’m confident they’ll finally win the elusive Major title.

Astralis, formerly the world’s best and most dominant team, will be looking to get that flattering title back as soon as possible. However, looking back at their recent campaigns, things aren’t looking so good for the Great Danes.

Sure, their roster has remained the same. It’s still the good old Astralis we know. Individually, they’re as tough as it gets, with mechanically superb players on all positions patiently waiting for mistakes on the opposing ends.

However, their strats and in-game calls, at least in their recent events, leave much to be desired. At times, device and the boys seemed disoriented and outright incapable of responding and adapting to their opponents’ moves. This left them vulnerable across all fronts, even on their most energetic map, Nuke.

Hopefully, their pre-Major preparation was comprehensive enough to finally fix their burning issues that crippled their performances ever since the end of the IEM Katowice spectacle. If that happens to be the case, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Astralis reach well into the playoffs… Perhaps even pose as a tough contestant for Team Liquid.

Team Liquid vs. Astralis in the grand finals of a Major… Now that’s a sight I want to see!

I can’t stop thinking about CR4ZY. Alongside Mousesports, CR4ZY was the second most dominant Challengers Stage team. Most importantly, nexa and the boys stayed true to their name – displaying aggressive, at times crazy, in-game strats and beating their opposition not just with pure mechanical superiority but with smart mind games as well.

Call me a fanboy, but I just can’t wait to watch their opening Legends Stage match against Team Liquid! This match has all the potential to be a proper Bo1 beauty. Contrary to popular belief, Team Liquid and CR4ZY are pretty close as far as individual mechanical skills are concerned. They’re neck and neck strats-wise too. The only aspect Team Liquid might be superior in is their map pool depth.

However, this is a Bo1 so, really, anything can happen. Let’s just hope both teams play up to their standards and provide us with a Bo1 match to remember!

Finally, the last team will be discussing in our Legends Stage preview is Mousesports. After failing to qualify for the previous Major (IEM Katowice), Mousesports experienced a massive overhaul with frozen, woxic, and karrigan joining the starting roster. A month later, former Tricked Esports coach, Rejin, took the coaching stick and marked Mousesports’ return to the top of the CS:GO food chain.

Fast forward to the Minors, Mousesports had a near-perfect campaign and qualified for the Challengers Stage without breaking a sweat. Even though many doubted their readiness coming into the Challengers Stage, woxic and the boys proved them wrong by going through with perfect 3-0 as their end score.

Considering their Challengers Stage performance, I reckon Mousesports will be a tough team to face in the Legends Stage. Even though their individual qualities are second to none, their teamwork still has room for improvement. If woxic and the boys manage to conquer FaZe Clan in their opening match, Champions Stage finish seems like a done deal for the returning EU giants.

StarLadder Major Legends Stage Schedule (PT)

As stated above in the interesting facts section of our Legends Stage preview, the initial round of matches starts tomorrow. Here are all eight opening matches as well as their starting times in PT zone:

• ENCE vs. AVANGAR – 3 a.m.
• Astralis vs. DreamEaters – 4.15 a.m.
• NRG vs. Renegades – 5.30 a.m.
• Liquid vs. CR4ZY – 6.45 a.m.
• Vitality vs. North – 8 a.m.
• Faze Clan vs. Mousesports – 9.15 a.m.
• Natus Vincere vs. G2 Esports – 10.30 a.m.
• MIBR vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas – 11.45 a.m.

For more information on event format and schedule, make sure you check out our StarLadder Major Berlin Viewer’s Guide!