What an amazing group stage. North America is looking good TBH. Excited for Copenhagen to say the least.
Here is a brief summary of the Group Stage by me:
1. First Seeds, Optic Gaming and XSET:
- Optic and XSET, topping their groups and being the 1st seeds. Major contenders for the Top 2 spots in playoffs. Expected from Optic as they are International Champions right now but also kind of from XSET as well.
XSET has consistently been a top 5 team in North America but always haven't been able to push over the final hurdle to qualify for an International event. Can they finally do it this time?
2. Second Seeds, Ghost Gaming and Faze Clan:
- Ghost Gaming and Faze Clan take the 2nd seeds of their respective groups. Both teams have improved a lot and are major contenders for one of the Top 2 spots in playoffs.
Ghost Gaming especially, looking incredible with their Duelist/Flex player, Ghost Nismo averaging a KD of 1.34 in the Group Stage. It's the highest of any player.
Faze Clan's star duo, Babybay and Dicey also in the top 10 players with the highest KD in the Group Stage.
If these two teams are firing at all cylinders then acquiring a spot for Masters 2: Copenhagen will be no big surprise.
3. Third Seeds, 100 Thieves and Evil Geniuses:
- 100 Thieves and Evil Geniuses acquire the 3rd seeds of their respective groups. Both teams have defeated the 1st seeds(XSET and Optic) of their respective groups but their loses to others has put them a little behind in seeding. Regardless, this just shows that the competition is very fierce and tough in North America right now.
Anyone can make a wonderful run in the playoffs to qualify for Masters 2: Copenhagen. Very much including the likes of fan favourites, 100T Thieves and recent upcomers, Evil Geniuses.
4. Fourth Seeds, Luminosity Gaming and NRG:
- LG and NRG with the 4th seeds. Even though LG started out very good in their group, their Map Differential caused them to be the 4th seed.
NRG won their last game in their group, against The Guard to qualify over them for the playoffs. Both teams, LG and NRG will have to make a lower bracket run to qualify for Masters 2: Copenhagen.
5. Sadge, TSM, Sentinels, Cloud9 and The Guard:
- Lastly, Press F to pay respects for TSM, Sentinels, Cloud9 and The Guard. Every single one of these teams were fan favourites for the playoffs.
Especially, The Guard and Cloud9, which were the Top 1 and Top 3 North American teams in Stage 1. Optic being the 2nd, but they went out and won the whole dang first International event of 2022.
TSM and SEN, clout match, when? On a real note, SEN completely bombed out with a 0-5 result in the Group Stage. Their year is basically over, unless, Ghost Gaming completely lose out in playoffs and don't win a single match. Thus, granting SEN the final LCQ spot over Ghost. Much unlikely though. TSM, improved considerably but it wasn't enough and their year is completely over as they don't have close to enough circuit points for LCQ.
We will definitely see Cloud9 and potentially The Guard in the LCQ, though.If the The Guard don't qualify for Champions because of their already existing circuit points from Stage 1, they will participate in LCQ for the final and third spot for North America in Champions. If no North American team other than Optic(already almost guaranteed in Champions) go far in Masters 2: Copenhagen then The Guard could potentially, automatically qualify for Champions.
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