Shanghai 2024 is NiKo’s Last Chance to Win a Major

The Legacy of NiKo

In the storied career of Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, there’s one glaring omission: a Major victory. He has defeated teams such as Cologne and Katowice, but the Counter-Strike Major is the ultimate goal, and NiKo, one of the brightest stars of the game, has not won it yet.

As the CS:GO scene transitions to CS2, the story around NiKo does not change. Every Major he competes in comes with the same question: Is this finally the one? His loss to underdogs Cloud9 in ELEAGUE Boston 2018, where he had six match points, and the loss to NAVI in the PGL Stockholm 2021 final, where he was dominated, are painful memories that do not heal. Until he holds that trophy, those moments will continue to plague his career.

Now, with the PW Shanghai Major 2024, NiKo is standing on the edge of what might be his last chance to win a Major in his prime.

The Falcons Move: A Double-Edged Sword

NiKo is still only 28 years old, and his career at the top of Counter-Strike is nothing short of incredible. However, time is a ruthless enemy, and the decision made after Shanghai is questionable, to say the least. After the Major, NiKo is expected to move to Falcons, a team that is more famous for their money than for their performance.

The Falcons are one of the few teams that can afford to put together a team of the best players in the world. However, their performance in 2024 was terrible. Big names in talent failed to meet the expectations set by management, even with significant investment. The idea of rebuilding in 2025 with NiKo as the main figure is rather promising, but the difficulties are enormous.

The upcoming CS2 circuit only adds to the problem. Since Valve’s Regional Standings determine the teams that get an invite to Tier 1 tournaments, Falcons, who are ranked 45th, will have to begin from the bottom. It could mean a slog through the online satellites—a world away from the glamour of the big tournaments. For NiKo, it’s a new experience. Starting from scratch may well prove too much for even his indomitable desire to win.

Shanghai 2024 could be his final attempt at Major success while leading a team that is poised for victory now.

Why Shanghai 2024 Is Different

The playoff bracket at the PW Shanghai Major 2024 is a perfect chance for G2 and NiKo. The draw is good, and it seems that everything is in their favor.

On their side of the bracket, G2 are set to play Heroic in the quarterfinals, which they should be able to overcome given the current standings. A potential semifinal against Vitality or FaZe is next, both teams that G2 has dominated this year. Vitality is the most dangerous team, as they have ZywOo, but they have also had issues facing G2 in their last matches.

If G2 can come out of this gauntlet and win, the grand final seems much more manageable. On the other side of the bracket, teams like The MongolZ, Liquid, and MOUZ are not consistent enough to put up a fight against G2. MOUZ, with such a talented lineup, could potentially do it, but they have been struggling with stage fright repeatedly. Spirit, probably the other finalist, has been dominated by G2 in recent games, including a devastating loss at the BLAST World Final 2024.

Alone, NiKo has been in an unbeatable streak, and he has always managed to counter Spirit’s rising star, donk. If Spirit is to defeat G2, they would have to bring out the best of their team, not just their star player.