Notes

** TEAMS ON THE LEFT ARE THE HIGHER SEEDS, SO THEY ARE PROBABLY TEAM A (3 BANS) **
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-- North vs G2 -- North wins

North ban dust2, G2 ban mirage, North ban cache, G2 ban cbblestone, North ban train - nuke/overpass

If overpass: Both teams are very experienced on the map, G2 havent lost an overpass to North/Dignitas in the past 6 months, at the same time the former dignitas players have a better
record on the map recently, both teams struggled on their last matches at this major but, I have to say that G2 yesterday seemed completely out of control, and in the other hand
North showed composure to come back from a hard match vs HR so, I think North wins here in a close match.

If nuke: These two teams met each other 3 times in a row on this same exact map and G2 never won, North havent showed their nuke yet at this major and in the other hand G2 had
the game in their hands vs VP and once again they fall apart and trew the match, they are both very good on the map with good executions on T side and a pretty solid CT side
so when it comes to this map I think that North has the advantage of being able to study G2`s last match on it and have the surprise factor, so North wins here too.
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-- Envy vs Fnatic -- Envy Wins

Envy ban mirage, Fnatic ban nuke, Envy ban train, Fnatic ban cache, Envy ban overpass - dust2/cbble

If dust2: very good map for both of these teams, they never met before with this rosters but it always been a massacre for either one of them when they meet, Envy havent played any
dust2 matches so far and fnatic had a pretty convincingly win vs Mouz yesterday, so the thing is, Envy is 11/2 on this map in the past 3 months, meanwhile fnatic is 3/3, so I guess that shows
envy are heavy favourites here but remember, dust2 is a random and predictable map and those teams have similar styles so this can def go either way based on momentum in the game.

If cbble: once again classic map for both of them, envy with way more experience on it than fnatic and the reason why I think this map could potentially happen is because fnatic has only two bans
and since one of them is nuke, the other one imo should be cache based on envy`s recent performances on it, i dont think they should risk playing on a map where envy beat all their opponents so far
(and that liquid match shouldve been comfortably) so yeah back to the analysis, fnatic didnt convince me with their cbble last time they played it in this tournament, they only had simple executions
relying too much on their individual skills and I think Envy is a more prepared team when it comes to cbblestone.
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-- Mouz vs Liquid -- Mouz wins if mirage, Liquid wins if nuke

Mouz ban overpass, Liquid ban cache, Mouz ban train, Liquid ban dust2, Mouz ban cbble - mirage/nuke

If mirage: Reason why I think Liquid would rather ban dust2/cache over mirage, is because cache is by far mouz strongest map on both sides and Liquid always struggle on dust2, since
they only have 2 vetoes they are forced to leave it open, anyway, so if it comes down to mirage honestly, both teams are kinda inconsistent, Liquid sometimes shows up w good t side and
terrible ct side, and then the next day its the opposite, now when it comes to mouz, they are VERY consistent with their CT side but their T side always struggle, still, think mouz is playing
better overall than Liquid and are the favourites here.

If nuke: So heres the thing, Liquid did show good executions yesterday on nuke indeed, but then things fall a part and their CT side was a shit show, in a way where they had the game in their hands
and threw it away because of inconsistency and confusion on their setups, so I know for a fact that Mouz have been practicing this map, so the question is, would they risk it ? Liquid would start CT
side, but if mouz is prepared I dont think they care at all, maybe they would even rather start T and try to get some momentum going in their favour and thats exactly what I think its gonna happen.
BUT... Liquid is way more experienced on this map and even tho they did struggle yesterday, I do believe that because of their experience and if they managed to talk about their CT side issues yest
they have the potential of winning here, but again MOUZ has the surprise factor and Liquid is a team that needs to study their opponents so, I think mouz will get the win here in a very close match again.
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-- GodSent vs OpTic -- GodSent wins

GodSent ban overpass, OpTic ban mirage, GodSent ban cache, OpTic ban nuke, GodSent ban cbblestone - dust2/train

If train: Very good matchup for both teams, I doubt they will respect each other on this map so theres a huge chance we see another train, and if it comes down to this map I think that GodSent are
the favourites, this is for sure their best map and their victory against astralis will definitely give them a lot of confidence coming into this, OpTic does play good but they always struggle a good
example is their match yesterday against FlipSide, even tho they had the composure to come back that match couldve gone either way and imo GodSent is a way stronger opponent, so I think that if it comes down
to train GodSent wins here in a close match

If dust2: Now you ask me why would they play dust2 right? OpTic has no other choice than removing mirage out of godsent and getting rid of Nuke cause for sure they havent practiced this map at all, and that
leaves godsent with a lot of options, cache for me is out of the table, overpass is by far one of optic`s strongest maps and once again dust2 favours GodSent style a lot and they DO play the map so why
wouldnt they leave it open? OpTic does play dust2 aswell but its by far one of their weakest maps, so based on styles I think GodSent`s would be the favourites here but, dust2 is a random map and it can def
go either way.
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-- SK vs Astralis -- Astralis wins

SK ban nuke, Astralis ban cbblestone, SK ban dust2, Astralis ban cache, SK ban overpass - mirage/train

If mirage: So heres the thing, Astralis beat SK on overpass 2 times pretty comfortably in december, I really dont see a reason for SK on trying again especially with fox whos clearly not comfortable
with the map, so if they decide to play mirage against Astralis imo they have way better chances, Astralis havent played mirages that much recently and they havent met each other in a while on this map
(they even banned mirage vs GodSent 3 days ago) and on top of that, last time these two teams met SK beat astralis on mirage so, if it comes down to this map, both teams are insanely good on it and knows
how to develop map control and work on it, this match can def go either way but slight advantage for Astralis cause of the amount of momentum they have in the tournament and cos SK struggled to beat FaZe and got destroyed by Navi yesterday.

If train: Both teams are insanely good on it, Astralis beat them last time they met on this map but its always very close and decided on small details, Astralis have shown that they are a bit inconsistent on this map
they got destroyed by godsent, then struggled to beat optic, and then destroyed G2 yesterday.. so it all depends on the way SK starts the match cos one of the issues Astralis has is their ability to adapt
to their opponents when they are under pressure so, if SK starts rlly strong I think Astralis wont make it, but thats the only way I see SK winning, otherwise Astralis is gonna get the W here in a close match.
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-- Gambit vs FaZe -- Gambit wins if train, FaZe wins if dust2

Gambit ban mirage, FaZe ban cbblestone, Gambit ban nuke, FaZe ban overpass, Gambit ban cache - train/dust2

If train: If it comes down to train, both teams are extremely good on it, yesterday Gambit struggled to beat VP on this map and meanwhile FaZe havent played this map at all yet, this used to be
one of the best maps for rain individually and both teams have different styles, gambit more methodical and developing map control and FaZe very aggressive relying on their individual skill so its
def a interesting matchup but I think that Zeus and his knownledge about the game and studying opponents will make a difference here and they will shut down FaZe`s style.

if dust2: Very scary map for Gambit, FaZe havent played it that much recently but this is one of the best maps for very skilled players like the ones from FaZe, aizy always steps up huge on this one
and I just dont see Gambit`s way of playing working against FaZe here, so huge advantage for FaZe here and I think they are the favourites.