ESL Professional League Season 21 is right here, bringing a much-needed replace to the system of one among ESL’s hottest tournaments. As a substitute of the everyday 4 Group, we’re seeing 16 groups soar straight right into a single Swiss format group, giving us eight opening video games to debate within the Play-In. Let’s make some predictions about the way it’s all going to kick off.
Everlasting Fireplace vs. Mindfreak
Credit score: Enos Ku | ESL
There’s actually not all that a lot to say in regards to the opening match of ESL Professional League Season 21. For me, Everlasting Fireplace are one of many favorites to win the whole occasion, whereas Mindfreak might be pleased to be there. If Everlasting Fireplace don’t handle to 2:0 this one, they’ll be extraordinarily disenchanted with themselves.
My prediction: Everlasting Fireplace 2:0 Mindfreak
M80 vs. FlyQuest
Credit score: Igor Bezborodov | © ESL
I anticipate M80 vs. FlyQuest to be a really messy sequence. Could the least-worst crew win. Whoever could make the least errors right here ought to come out on high, however each groups can have ample alternative to make the most of the holes in one another’s armor. I’ve been actually unconvinced with FlyQuest recently, so I’m going in opposition to them right here.
My prediction: M80 2:1 FlyQuest
Heroic vs. SAW
Credit score: ESL
Heroic strike me as considerably darkish horses on this CS2 match. If they will present a few of their on-line performances on LAN, they could be a actually aggressive underdog at ESL Professional League S21. In the meantime, that is SAW’s first occasion with two new items of their lineup. That makes them unpredictable and due to this fact, harmful. Heroic ought to be capable to win this one, however I’ve received a sense I can’t shake that SAW will shock with a map win.
My prediction: Heroic 2:1 SAW
3DMAX vs. TYLOO
Credit score: Sebastian Pandelache | PGL
Life with bodyy has been first rate to this point for 3DMAX. It’s a little bit of a sidegrade, however even by not getting worse, they need to have sufficient to take down Chinese language crew TYLOO with ease. The latter remains to be bedding in new participant Mercury, so don’t anticipate a lot out of TYLOO.
My prediction: 3DMAX 2:0 TYLOO
FURIA vs. Lynn Imaginative and prescient
Credit score: Enos Ku | ESL
It’s exhausting to know what to make of FURIA. Every time it appears like issues are getting higher, they unexpectedly look a lot worse out of nowhere. One factor’s for positive – they need to nonetheless have greater than sufficient to batter Lynn Imaginative and prescient on this ESL Professional League S21 match. The rest would merely be a bit embarrassing.
My prediction: FURIA 2:0 Lynn Imaginative and prescient
MIBR vs. Nemiga
Credit score: Enos Ku | ESL
Nemiga have grinded their approach by way of Tier 2 to achieve ESL Professional League S21, and that’s to be revered. It makes them considerably of an unknown amount coming into this one, whereas MIBR are available in off the again of one more roster change. I reckon Nemiga will be capable to do sufficient to snag a map on this sequence, although I don’t anticipate them to expire winners.
My prediction: MIBR 2:1 Nemiga
GamerLegion vs. NRG
Credit score: Excellent World
NRG reaching a Tier 1 occasion is an enormous step on this crew’s growth, and it’ll be good to see some acquainted names like nitr0, oSee, and br0 in motion. Even nonetheless, the crew have largely confronted inferior North American opposition of late, and it’ll be very robust to face a tactically robust crew like GamerLegion on this step up. I solely see this going a method – a GamerLegion 2:0.
My prediction: GamerLegion 2:0 NRG
paiN Gaming vs. Housebets
Credit score: Helena Kristiansson | ESL
It’s a must to give all of the credit score to Housebets for managing to combat their approach to ESL Professional League Season 21, however it’s exhausting to think about a worse opening match for them than paiN Gaming. This might be a really quick sequence, if I needed to guess.
My prediction: paiN Gaming 2:0 Housebets
