Valve "flip-flops" on decider matches for PW Shanghai Major elimination stage invites
In the midst of the final EU RMR, Valve has communicated to the Shanghai Major’s organizer Perfect World that they should forgo with the tiebreakers that determine which teams qualify directly for the Elimination Stage. Instead, qualification will be based on the Valve Regional Standings, bringing things back in line with the rulebook and bringing to the end a confusing saga that initially saw Perfect World's event format contradict Valve's rulebook, Valve acquiescing to the change, and the finally asserting themselves in the middle of the EU RMR B.
Perfect World originally stated before the tournament that both EU RMRs would use a 4th and 5th place tiebreaker to determine Opening and Elimination stage placements. Valve has reportedly told PW today to cancel the tiebreaker and move forward with using the VRS.
This changes the trajectory of several teams that have already qualified for the Major, especially BIG and 3DMAX, who went 3-0 in the RMR B despite being ranked lower on the VRS. This rule change also nullifies the result of the RMR A’s 4th place tiebreaker win for FaZe Clan against Cloud9.
According to the Perfect World statement, an update to the VRS is set to take place after the conclusion of the RMRs, with those rankings properly determining which teams start in the Elimination Stage or the Opening Stage.
The EU RMR B is set to conclude over the next couple days, with five spots in the Major still up for grabs. Following the end of the RMRs and the update to the VRS, the Opening Stage of the Shanghai Major will begin on November 30th.
