NiP 2-1 Acend

I would just say that, if a team can beat NV comfortably and then beat SEN as well... that's top team business right there.

Of course, the 'Best in NA' will always be in flux. But, this could be Faze's moment at the top of the pile.

Who else is there? SEN, NV, 100T, LG?

They've got recent clean sweeps on all of them except SEN.

Sure, one game or one tournament doesn't constitute an undisputed champion. But, it's one hell of an accolade.

Is this where FaZe finally meet their match? Or are they genuinely the best team in NA right now...

I don't know what I want to see more.

So, I guess Heretics ban out Icebox, and NiP ban out Bind.

Heretics take Haven. Their DEF setup is just so good.
NiP take Split. NiP's ATK is huge & Heretics don't play this map.
Heretics take Ascent. On average, Heretics only loose 6 rounds per game on Ascent...

2-1 Heretics.

It's going to be a close game.

I think whoever wins here will come second to FPX overall.

Biggest test yet coming up against NV. Good luck LG, I'll be rooting for you!

LET'S GO ALLIANCE!!

It's going to be an uphill struggle against Guild. They are looking so good. But man I want Alliance to win.

GLHF!

jeez

looks that way yea

Either way, this game is going to be a bloodbath. Can't wait to see it!

GLHF

Ha! Savage

That wall under hell. Straight trolling XD.

I know what you mean. Weird they put him on sage too.

It sure is

It's just that it was on Split!

Wow. What a game!

Guild are looking sick. Even if they end up in lowers, they could make it all the way if they keep this up!

I mean, it's kind of paying off!

Alliance 2:1

XD

GLHF to both teams.

Gen.G Looked SO good against NV. I Think they have what it takes. GLHF to both teams.

I'm really not sure on this one.

I think IMT have looked better so far in Masters, But LG had no idea what to expect from SEN's new line-up. When LG play IMT, they will be far more prepared.

I thought IMT might have the advantage over 100T, and they sure gave them a run of it - whereas LG totally fluffed their last encounter with 100T. It was a bloodbath.

On average, LG hit more headies & have a better K/D than IMT.
IMT, on the other hand, do more damage per round, get more kills per round, more first bloods, and have a better entry success rate.

Neither team have been performing up to standard over their past 5 games, with players on both sides unable to reach their full potential, but LG have slipped a little further.

Over the past 5 games, IMT look better on ATK while LG look better on DEF.

IMT are having more overall success on map win %. And, if we see Ascent, Icebox & Bind played in this series, IMT have the advantage on Bind, with LG looking stronger on Icebox.

Ascent could be a real decider. Both teams are great. IMT perhaps a little more so.

I think the advantage goes to IMT but we will have to wait and see. Deep down, I want LG to move on through masters, and they sure could. It kind of depends on who is feeling cracked today.

Faze 2-0

Yea man. Gen.G were amazing. GGs to both teams

Good calls.

It's weird to me at Faze don't ban out Haven. Statistically it's their worst map by quite a way. They've only played it 8 times this year and lost 4 of them. I'm wondering whether we see Faze ban it against XSET as it is their strongest map.

Dunno. We will see.

https://twitter.com/llunairee/status/1369858130797092867?s=19

This one hit different. kinda sums it up to me.

Trippy = Faze 2.0

Can't wait

Ha! yea maybe. It's going to be a great game either way!

Envy v Gen.G

I think most of us are expecting Envy to take this series. In my eyes, Envy are the favourites to win Masters and lead NA onto Worlds. But, Gen.G are by no means a second rate team. So, here is how they match up in the stats.

Maps

We will likely see Gen.G ban Split, having avoided that map like the plague since the start of the year.

The smartest ban for Envy would be Haven. They have only played it 5 times this year and Gen.G look better on Haven than any other map.

The big thorn in Gen.G's side is their map pool. With no experience on Split, you would expect that they could at least put up competitive numbers on the other 4 maps, but that's just not the case. Gen.G can't play Ascent. At least, not against other top tier teams. So, essentially, Gen.G is only a 3-trick pony, leaving themselves open to a clean sweep if the map order is against them. And, with Haven out of the pool, I'd be surprised if anyone could argue they have the advantage on any map against Envy.

Players

Envy are on the rise. Over the past 5 games, their stats have been surpassing their averages continuously. Food, in particular, is putting out insane numbers, averaging 60 above his 'All-Time' ACS and 35 above his ADR. IMO, Food is the best Phoenix in NA right now. If there is a 'weak' link in the Envy line-up, it's Kaboose who has been underperforming over the last 5 games. But, Kaboose does what he's paid to - he gets shot at. I suppose, if Gen.G find a way to isolate Kaboose when Gen.G are on ATK, they might find some success, but Envy don't often stick their arm out of the bus, so to speak.

Gen.G, on the whole, have been underperforming over their past 5 games. GMD hasn't been putting out anywhere near his fragging potential. Mkael has lost .3 off his K/D. Even Shawn has been struggling, loosing .2 off his average player rating.

XSET v FAZE

XSET look in prime position to put a stop to FaZe's winning streak. But, if there is one thing I've learnt over the past few weeks, it's that betting against FaZe will, more often than not, empty your pockets and leave you feeling like a chump.

Maps

FaZe will likely ban out Haven, if they get the chance. I'm not 100% on how picks and vetos work, and in what order, but XSET will be really gutted to see Haven out of the pool if FaZe get their way.

XSET will try and be rid of Icebox, which will likely piss off FaZe as much as XSET loosing Haven.

Vetos done, we should see Bind, Split and Ascent on the cards.

Bind will be close, I hope. Faze have been stomping of late, but XSET have more top tier experience on Bind and look pretty sharp.

Split should be The FaZe Show. XSET are a bit 50/50 on this map and haven't really cracked their ATKs.

Ascent could be close again, as both teams look pretty deadly. But, Faze have looked more deadly, more often on Ascent this year so I think they have the edge.

Players

The ' STRAIGHT SMEAG' might, finally, be a thing of the past for FaZe Clan, which is a terrifying prospect for the NA scene and an utter blessing for the viewers. over the past 5 games, FaZe have averaged above their 'All Time' stats. They are certainly improving. On top of this, their recent change in approach has left opponents wondering what happened to those rash-dash YOLO Bois and who these straight-up executioners are, playing in the stead. BabyBay, in particular, has been outperforming across the board.

Over their past 5 games, XSET have been underperforming. They just aren't getting the combat scores and damage per round we had come to expect from the team. Ayrin and BCJ taking the hardest knocks in these areas.

The one big caveat is that, overall, XSET still put out better All-Time averages. As a team, they have a better ACS, a better K/D, more Kills Per Round, and about 150 more rounds worth of experience.
We can assume, from these stats that XSET still play a better 'team game' than FaZe. On the other hand, FaZe's 'ego stats' (Headshots, Entries and First Bloods) are all better than XSET's. I'm expecting a lot of bloody, mid-map collisions and we will have to wait and see who walks away from them.

SEN v LG

FeelsBadMan from the rest of SEN. Don't really know what to say about this series other than LG now stand a better chance than ever of knocking SEN into the loser's bracket.

If in doubt, side with the Victim.

IMT vs 100T

With Ethan finding his feet in a new title, 100T haven't looked their best. But, they are super clean on DEF and that could be enough...

Maps

Regardless of whose veto it is, we won't be seeing Split. Both teams hate that map. IMT should leave 100T to veto though, as it is there permaban, leaving them a chance to ban out Haven.

Haven is the map where 100T have a clear advantage over IMT. It would really be 'cutting off the head of the snake' if IMT can get rid of it.

Assuming they do, we will see Bind, Ascent & Icebox.

IMT should stomp on Bind. 100T just can't seem to find a footing there.

Ascent will be a blow-for-blow slugfest, with both teams looking dominant. I am particularly excited about IMT's attacking half. They look so good. But, what will make this showing extra juicy is that 100T are one of the finest DEF teams on Ascent. they've won over 70% of defensive rounds this year. It's going to be filthy.

I hope Icebox is map 3, as there is barely a shred between these two teams in terms of an 'edge'. Neither teams are particularly good and I think that, whoever is destined to take this map, will take it be an inch rather than a yard.

Players

On paper, IMT are the stronger team. They do more damage, they get more kills, they enter more sites, they get more multikills. But, this isn't news, we all know what kind of team IMT are. They are scrappers.

100T, on the other hand, have better "gentlemen's" stats. They have better player ratings, combat scores, headshots and K/D.

But, with 100T reverting back to simpler strats while Ethan gets bedded in. I'd take the scrappers over the gentlemen right now.

Over the past 5 games, IMT have been underperforming against some notoriously difficult teams, so I guess that was to be expected. They haven't found as many headies, their K/D is down, as is their combat scores and player ratings. They have, however, maintained a scary average ADR and ESR - suggesting that, even when IMT are against the ropes, they still know how to dish out the damage and claim those sites.

100T have struggled with their entries over the past 5 games, along with their ADR. But, and this could be the real counter to IMT, they're playing REALLY clean. their Headshots are up 2% for an average of nearly 30%, which is insane. Hiko put out a 48% headshot percentage against TSM. That's god-tier by anyone's standards. They've also improved on their average combat score, meaning they are playing smarter than usual - a scary prospect considering 100T are one of the smartest teams in the scene.

Predictions

I am so excited to see these games. I respect all the teams and hope they all play out of their minds.

I think our 4 winner will be:

1. Envy
2. Faze
3. LG
4. IMT

GLHF

"my own girl"

That's it, isn't it?! That's how you see this. Gross.

Crawl back under your rock dude.

The game is so young though. There are so many changes happening all the time. It would be weird to hold him just because he is good. There are dozens of F/As in NA who could come in. Nothing is set in stone yet.

Just read. F. SEN better do the right thing and the SEN fans better not make the wrong choices.

This is really really bad.

If faze clan do what they say they will - focus on game plans and stop the yolo smeaging - they will be seriously hard to beat.

I was never a huge fan of their play style until CH3. They played anything but a 'beautiful game, and it kind of soured the NA scene for me. As teams like NV and 100T started adopting more intricate strat-heavy play styles, The scene started to brighten up and Faze started looking a bit immature. But I think they are moving with the meta. They've started to make plays that actually work and make the game a joy to watch.

Who knows, we might yet start liking BabyBay as much as he likes himself! XD

Astralis would be a sick addition to the scene.

So true. Would they be underdogs if we'd seen them actually play?

cheers dude

BONECOLD FOR THE 3K

Yea, quality won't be an issue. That's for sure.

This could genuinely be an issue...

Man, RYE are looking scary!

nice first comment

great contribution

Yea. Painful to watch.

This did not age well.

Mistic is carrying hard

I mean... he just keeps going!

Savage.

On paper, this series should be FNATIC's every day of the week.

I'm assuming we don't see Ascent being played, as neither team like it. The other ban is anyone's guess. Maybe Icebox from BALLISTA. Maybe Split from FNATIC.

Truth be told, I don't think FNATIC loose a map in this series. But, if they do, it will be Split. BALLISTA also look great on Bind, but FNATIC are dominant there. So, if it does go to BALLISTA, that would be massive.

BALLISTA are damage-dealers, no doubt. But I don't think they will get the space to frag out. They haven't come up against a team like FNATIC.

FNATIC 2-0

Presuming both teams ban out their usuals, the map pool should be Bind, Ascent & Icebox.

Bind
This will be a real slug fest, I imagine. Both teams perform well here but RYE have played nearly twice as many maps this year than OG. RYE are a very strong team on defence, but they historically make a real mess on Attack. OG look slightly better on attack but will it be enough to break RYE? I think this map could be super close and could go either way.

Ascent
RYE are mad on Ascent. OG's best chance of taking this map is to get a huge attacking half and hope for the best. If OG have added Haven to their map pool, they might ban this map out. We'll have to wait and see.

Icebox
Both teams have played this map twice this year, and both teams have a flawless success rate. It's hard to give an edge either way on this map. RYE played way cleaner on their two showings (69% ATK & 79% DEF) , but OG played two far tougher teams (Guild & Vitality). I suppose the edge goes to OG, as they are arguably more tried and tested, but RYE could simply have a more full-proof approach to the map.

Players
Pound for Pound, RYE have a stronger team across the board. So, if any of the maps get deathmatch-y my money's on RYE coming out on top. Saying that, OG's last 5 games of Opens tell a slightly different story. They could tell us that OG have shifted gear and could well out-class RYE - putting out more impressive average player ratings, combat score, and damage-per-round. But RYE still don't give up kills easy. Their K/D is really solid. It might be that OG can't find that opening kill often enough to come away with the win.

Predictions
On paper, this is the game to watch out of EU today. It really could be anyone's game.

If Ascent is played first, I reckon it goes 2-0 RYE

If Icebox is played first and goes to OG, and Ascent is map 3, I think OG could clean sweep it too.

Bind will be the real decider.

Otherwise, I wouldn't like to say. I guess I would put RYE as favourites to take the series but not by much. GLHF to both teams.

Gut says 100T for the win.

But, literally every time I bet against Faze, they stomp and I feel like an idiot.

GLHF to both teams.

Oof.

I can't believe that game! What a spanner in the works!