The High School Esports League (HSEL) has recruited the US Army to help build 25 esport centers in North America. These workshops will be fitted with high-tech computers and equipment supplied by Intel and Asus. There will also be an education program for students on how to build and maintain these labs.
Jason Kirby, President of Generation Esports, mentions that the implementation of these facilities will teach students how to set up computers and prepare them for the option of working in the industry.
Asia esports news
EVOS Esports have launched a partnership with Chek Hup coffee. The collaboration is Malaysian based and the coffee company will supply coffee and promote EVOS through brand ambassadorship.
In turn, EVOS will have the coffee brand on their jerseys and create videos that market Chek Hup’s products. It ought to be a meaningful relationship, as caffeine is an integral part of most gamer’s arsenals.
Africa esports news
Lenovo and Power League Gaming have started a program to celebrate female gamers in the Middle East and North Africa. The duo have launched a platform called Miss Esports, which will reach out to local ambassadors and their female mentors.
If successful, this will help change the relatively rigid cultural traditions that dominate the region.
Africans have cottoned on to the potential of the esports industry. Some 17 universities in South Africa alone have included esports into their syllabus.
The African market isn’t as affluent as the rest of the world when it comes to esports events. Due to COVID and the lack of usual activities, there should be a spike in esport interests.
Europe esports news
The esports betting industry is growing and maturing into a formidable market. It is expected to reach a value of €670 million by 2023. Deloitte states that there will be a total of 86 million fans in Europe alone and a fan base of 380 million people worldwide. This is something that esports betting sites will surely look to make the most out of.
South America esports news
Online gambling brand Betway is in the process of expanding its portfolio. The firm has partnered up with Peruvian Dota 2 esports team Beastcoast.
The side will have the bookmaker’s brand appear on the shirts of the team for one year. The gaming brand will also collaborate with the Electronic Sports League (ESL) members. Betway will work together with members to create new content for fans.
Oceania esports news
The global esports watchdog, Esports Integrity Commission (ESIC), has found seven CS: GO pro players guilty of cheating. The perpetrators were caught using CS:GO betting sites to wager on official games they were playing in. The ESIC has therefore banned them from participation for the next 12 months.
]]>Effortless Dominates Diabotical Fatal1ty Aim Duel
The North American edition of Diabotical Fatal1ty Aim Duel is over, and the results are in. The two-day competition saw the best of North American arena FPS talent duke it out. In the end, Justin “Effortless” Yergeau came out on top, dominating a 72-player field.
Effortless was part of the regular field, qualifying for the playoffs through a grueling group-stage. In the grand finale, he bested prominent American arena FPS player Raul Raygoza, who was one of eight players directly invited to the double-elimination playoffs.
In the final match, Effortless won over Raygoza 15-11 in a thrilling series. Next month, the tournament will go to Europe, with one of its main goals to bring Diabotical to the forefront of the esports scene. Arena FPS games have struggled to raise interest within esports betting circles.
Asia esports news
EVOS Esports & Newzoo Team Up To Study Southeast Asian Market
Esports analytics company Newzoo and Indonesian esports organization EVOS have unveiled a new partnership. In a bid to better penetrate the SEA market, EVOS and Newzoo will be studying the region in great detail.
Newzoo bring considerable expertise to the table as an esports analytics and research firm, and they are equipped to extract valuable information from player data. Meanwhile, EVOS manages 15 teams across five different countries, providing ample amounts of data.
The partnership will see Newzoo leverage the EVOS team, sponsorship, and fan networks to better understand the SEA region. Mobile gaming is a particular focus of the partnership as it holds a significantly larger share of the regional market than PCs and consoles.
Africa esports news
Abu Akhalwaya Wins Africa’s Largest FIFA Tournament
Abu Akhalwaya, team coach for Pirates Esports, has crowned himself champion of the TELKOM VS Gaming eDiski FIFA20 tournament. The competition, played on Xbox, is Africa’s largest competitive FIFA event, with a series of qualifiers taking place throughout October. This culminated in Akhalwaya takes home a cash prize of more than 100,000 South African rand (just over $6,000).
It was a surprising result as Akhalwaya has a solid reputation as a coach, but not as a competitor. In addition, the 35-year-old has been unwell lately, suffering from kidney failure and other ailments.
The final saw Abu defeat bookmaker favorite Kaylan Moodley. The latter was the clear favorite with every major sportsbook, being the #1 ranked player in South Africa. Akhalwaya’s victory was a major upset for African betting sites and TELKOM VS betting in general.
Europe esports news
Mongraal, Mitr0 and TaySon Dominate FNCS Chapter 2 S4 Finale
After weeks of regular qualifiers, four qualifier heats, and a wildcard round, Europe’s Fortnite Champion Series Grand Finale is over. In the end, the winning trio was made up of FaZe Clan’s Mongraal, Team Liquid’s Mitr0, and Eleven Gaming’s TaySon.
The British, Dutch, and Slovenian players prevailed over the French-German trio that took second place. It was made up of xsweeze and Andilex from Team MCES, along with the German JannisZ of Wave Esports.
The winning trio walked away with over US $111,000 in prize money, while the team in second place took home $93,000. The tournament, organized by Fortnite developer Epic Games, saw more than $624,000 in prize money doled out to teams.
South America esports news
Razer Announces New Invitational For LATAM Region
Following the massive success of the Southeast Asian Razer Invitational, the company has announced plans for similar competitions elsewhere. The brand has unveiled the next Razer Invitational tournament, and it’s taking place in Latin America.
The company has asked amateur and pro-esports athletes to sign up and represent their countries. Last July’s SEA Razer Invitational saw participation from over 500 teams, including 3,500 players from 10 countries. Razer will be keen to replicate that success in Latin America.
The tournament would be the largest regional competition in Latin America this year, and it is set to include six countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Games will include CS:GO, League of Legends, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and PUBG Mobile.
Oceania esports news
Pat Speaks About Wildcard’s Six Invitational 2021 Hopes
Wildcard Gaming’s Patrick “Pat” Wines has spoken up about his team’s upcoming Six Major participation and possible Six Invitational qualification. Wildcard are the only team in the ANZ region that still have a chance of making it to the Invitational.
The team have had an excellent year, winning the Six Masters 2020, the August Oceania Major, and the Oceanic Nationals 2020. Pat says the team feel confident going into the November Major, and he also points out that they have the bracket advantage and the best roster in the ANZ.
If Wildcard dominate the Major, they’ll be sure to qualify for the Six Invitational 2021. The team lost key player Ethan Picard last September but still managed to win the Oceanic Nationals.
]]>GAM ESPORTS vs EVOS ESPORTS LoL BETTING & MATCH DETAILS
GAM ESPORTS vs EVOS ESPORTS VCS SUMMER BETTING PREVIEW
GAM Esports are scheduled to lock horns with EVOS Esports this Saturday in their opening fixture of the 2020 Vietnam Championship Series (VCS) Summer Split.
GAM finished the VCS Spring regular season at the top of the leaderboard with a near-perfect 13-1 record and equally impressive 27-5 game differential. Despite their dominant performance through the regular season, Tr?n “Kiaya” Duy Sang and his crew couldn’t finish the job and went down 2-3 to Team Flash in the grand finals.
During the off-season, GAM made a couple of roster changes. They parted ways with support Nguy?n “Palette” H?i Trung and ADC ?? “Blazes” ?ình Sang, replacing them with ADC Hu?nh “Jisoo” H?u Sang and mid laner Tr?n “Genza” H?ng Phúc.
GAM also decided to freshen up their coaching personnel. Last week they acquired ex-V Gaming Adonis support Nguy?n “Scary” H?i Hà as the team’s analyst and brought in former Percent Esports coach Phan “JackieWind” Huy Phong as a replacement for Hu?nh “Yuna” V?n Tan, who left for Saigon Buffalo in May.
GAM recently played at the Pulsefire Cup, where they made it through the group stage without any issues. Although they lost their bout with Saigon Buffalo, GAM picked up two easy wins against Team Secret and Percent Esports to book a spot in the final four. In the playoffs, GAM got their revenge against Team Flash (2-0) and made easy work of Saigon Buffalo (3-1) in the grand finals to claim the trophy and ?100,000,000 (US $4,300) in prize money.
SEE ALSO: HOW TO BET ON LEAGUE OF LEGENDS ESPORTS
However, things turned sour for GAM at the Mid-Season Showdown, where they lost against two Pacific Championship Series (PCS) teams in Talon Esports and Machi Esports. GAM finished the tournament with a 1-5 map record, which they earned with a 1-1 draw against Team Flash and 0-2 losses against Machi and the eventual champions, Talon.
EVOS Esports enter the second split of the season after a fairly solid showing in the VCS Spring Split. They finished the regular season in fourth placed and climbed into third in the post-season, which was an improvement on their fifth-place finish in the VCS 2019 Summer Split.
EVOS made two roster changes in May, when they signed ex-GAM top laner Ph?m “Zeros” Minh L?c and parted ways with mid laner Ph?m “Coyote” Qu?c Bình. It remains to be seen whether EVOS will field Zeros in this match since he played only eight games with GAM last split, but he produced far better showings than his new teammates Nguy?n “But1” Lê Tu?n Anh and Tr?n “TH” Lê Trung H?u, so it’s likely we will see a bit more from him in the upcoming months.
EVOS also participated at Pulsefire Cup 2020, but they saw less success than GAM. They finished the group stage second with a 1-2 record but fell flat against Saigon Buffalo (0-2) in the semi-finals, thus winding up in third-fourth place.
GAM ESPORTS vs EVOS ESPORTS VCS SUMMER BETTING PREDICTIONS
The most recent bout between these two sides took place at the start of March, when we saw GAM Esports come away with a convincing 2-0 win. Both maps were very one-sided, although the EVOS top laners had very little impact. Additionally, in game two, Zeros almost singlehandedly carried GAM to victory on Aatrox, so it’s fair to say EVOS will be better prepared this weekend if they decide to field Zeros.
Although EVOS lost twice to GAM last split, they’re not a bad team. Mid laner Hu?nh “Pake” Thanh Hoàng, ADC V? “Divkid” Thanh Tùng and jungler Nguy?n “Sorn” Minh Hào are some of the best in the VCS in their respective roles and if Zeros can find his old form from 2019, EVOS will become legitimate VCS Summer title contenders.
Both teams tend to start strong in a new split, so we can expect a close bout with all three maps played. A few bucks on EVOS as outsiders might also be worth considering.
Over 2.5 maps
This year’s Asian tournament, which is scheduled for July 4-7 in Seoul, is the first to feature teams from four regions.
SEE ALSO: ESPORTS LEAGUES AND TOURNAMENTS
The new addition means a different format compared to last year, when LCK, LPL and LMS teams competed against each other.
Group stage matchups will be decided by results in the Spring Split, with teams of the same seeding to face one another.
For example: SKT, who finished first in LCK, will play IG, who finished first in LPL.
All of the matches in the group stage will be played in a single round robin, Bo1 format.
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The top region at the end of the group games will then advance directly into the finals, while the second- and third-placed regions get another shot at glory in the semi-finals.
In the semis, teams will face off in a Bo5 relay with the matchups determined by the coaches from both sides.
SEE ALSO: RIFT RIVALS NA vs EU RETURNS TO LA
The winner of the semi-finals will then take on the first-placed region from group stages in another Bo5 relay.
The teams competing in the tournament are as follows:
LCK – SKT T1, Griffin, Kingzone DragonX, DAMWON Gaming
LPL – Invictus Gaming, JD Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix, Topsports Gaming
LMS – Flash Wolves, MAD Team
VCS – Phong Vu Buffalo, EVOS Esports
Seeing how VCS and LMS both come into Rift Rivals with only two teams, the two regions will merge to form a single region for the sake of the tournament.
Vietnam’s inclusion comes off the back of some impressive results at international level.
The region has also brought a completely new playstyle to the top tier of League of Legends esports, combining extreme aggression with unique strategies.
Phong Vu Buffalo mad a big statement at the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational when they beat G2 Esports, the MSI champions, twice in the group stage.
Flash Wolves have belied their second-tier status to become serious contenders for the Mid Season Invitational title. Standing in their way are Kingzone DragonX, champions of LCK. EVOS Esports have impressed despite their indifferent results in the Main Stage, while the folks at Team Liquid have done nothing to improve North America’s reputation on the big stage.
This is how we see the seeds panning out for the semi-finals:
1. Flash Wolves (LMS)
2. Kingzone DragonX (LCK)
3. Fnatic (EU)
4. Royal Never Give Up (LPL)
Fnatic vs. Kingzone DragonX
2am PST / 5am EST / 11am CEST
Fnatic have grown over the span of the tournament, but have they come far enough to pose a serious challenge to Kingzone? KZ have multiple avenues to exploit FNC including Khan’s split push, Peanut’s early pressure and a botlane collapse. On the flip side, FNC must rely on the much-improved Caps during the early game and transition power to Rekkles in the late game. Such a strategy is very narrow for execution and is best imagined as walking a tightrope, with KZ firing on all cylinders during the performance.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX
EVOS Esports vs. Royal Never Give Up
3am PST / 6am EST / 12pm CEST
RNG entered the Main Stage as one of the strongest teams, but now they look to have multiple weaknesses. Their fundamental strength has provided them victories up to this point, but it remains unclear whether they have sorted out their communication issues regarding tempo and rotations. Uzi may be doing his best to prevent the hemorrhaging for RNG, but through drafts, laning phase and general execution, RNG have much to be desired. EVOS have looked great in the early game, but have never converted leads or spiraled advantages of control. Every single EVOS has delivered relentless pressure early on, but they fall short of the rest when it comes to teamfighting and objective strategy.
Prediction: Royal Never Give Up
Flash Wolves vs. Team Liquid
4am PST / 7am EST / 1pm CEST
Considering their preliminary placement in this tournament, one would not have expected Flash Wolves to be the dominant favorites in this clash. The Taiwanese bolters only have to play their game, as they have demonstrated that their basic play is already calibers above what Team Liquid usually bring to the table. TL have to find some kind of synchronization between their plays, as their playstyle is more reminiscent of solo queue than anything else. They seem to barely understand that tardiness to call out an MIA in time or being late to a rotation will spiral out of control, especially in an international setting. It is unfortunate that this realization comes as late as it does in this tournament.
Prediction: Flash Wolves
Fnatic vs. EVOS Esports
5am PST / 8am EST / 2pm CEST
Although EVOS may be out of contention for top four, Fnatic still have to show their mettle and not get complacent. If the underdogs turn the early game into a fiesta of kills, it may only speed up their demise as FNC can utilize Caps’ early game even quicker. What EVOS need is methodical and organized chaos, a term that was synonymous with the Gigabyte Marines. Fnatic overall have more strength in most lanes, so they should have no problem securing a semi-final spot as long as they can get Caps to start exerting mapwide pressure from the midlane.
Prediction: Fnatic
Flash Wolves vs. Kingzone DragonX
6am PST / 9am EST / 3pm CEST
What was once thought to be a one-sided stomp has evolved into a possible finals matchup, with Wolves holding the head-to-head advantage. The strategy of playing through botlane while using Maple to annihilate his laner is not uncommon among teams at the MSI, but they have executed the strategy to a higher degree than most teams. If Maple gets a strong laner that can push and roam easily with Moojin obtaining a jungle that can go even against Peanut, FW may be able to call the game at first tower blood. KZ will find it difficult to play through top and midlane due to the base strength of their opponents. Their best bet is PraY and GorillA, but should they see an opportunity to put Maple down, they could wipe out a third of FW’s win conditions.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX
Team Liquid vs. Royal Never Give Up
7am PST / 10am EST / 4pm CEST
RNG gave Team Liquid their first victory of the MSI Main Stage when these two last met. The Americans succeeded on that occasion for three reasons: Olleh’s pressure on Morgana, Mlxd showing up instead of Mlxg, and RNG’s narrow win condition. Drafting phase already eliminates the first possibility, but the second factor is RNG’s identity and cannot be so easily changed. They need to pool their resources into Uzi while Mxlg finds his rhythm and intensity. TL did an excellent job in mitigating Uzi last time by constantly creating a party botlane, causing death after death. They broke the code before and, despite their shaky overall MSI performance, are favored to do it again.
Prediction: Team Liquid
]]>Team Liquid and EVOS are predicted to struggle from here on, while Kingzone DragonX are the only team in a clear position to secure one of those coveted semi-final spots.
Remember: whichever side finishes top of the table in the Main Stage can choose to face either the third or fourth seed in the semis, with the leftover teams playing it out in the other match.
Kingzone DragonX vs. Royal Never Give Up
2am PST / 5am EST / 11am CEST
RNG have looked a bit shaky, citing losses to KZ and FW within the first couple of days. On the flip side, KZ have only been gaining traction since their upset and continue to be a dominant force.
Uzi is doing his best to try to carry the games, but the team that surrounds him cannot operate from behind. Most teams that have won against RNG have either outpaced them in teamfighting or prevented that scenario altogether. KZ, on the other hand, have had significant strain in the jungle, as Mlxg either makes a good situation better or a bad situation worse.
These two teams are still in contention as the most powerful two teams in MSI, but as the tournament round robin nears its end, every game will count for the top four spots.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX – $1.37 at Arcanebet
Fnatic vs. Flash Wolves
3am PST / 6am EST / 12pm CEST
These two teams have impressed so far. Flash Wolves came out of the gate with all guns ablaze, while Fnatic have ramped up over time.
Many believe that FW should not have been relegated to a second-tier region considering their accomplishments at this tournament. Hanabi, a rookie on the team, has successfully gone head-to-head with the best top laners in the world, with Betty and Maple doing a lot of work in teamfights. For Fnatic, Bwipo has recovered from a difficult first day and is looking great despite a lack of experience on the big stage.
This match will fall upon FW’s tempo versus that of Fnatic’s, as to who can break the first tower, pull off rotations and take neutral objectives. The team that initiates first blood tower will be the likely team to secure victory.
Prediction: Flash Wolves – $1.66 at Arcanebet
EVOS Esports vs. Team Liquid
4am PST / 7am EST / 1pm CEST
EVOS Esports and Team Liquid are both looking at the guillotine.
Warzone has undergone a famous transformation for EVOS over the past year and looms as the danger man in this clash. Slay and RonOP still have their work cut out for them, facing the heralded four horsemen of ADCs in the group stages. And although Yijin will have the advantage in the jungle, the same cannot be said for each individual lane across the board.
Team Liquid need to shore up Xmithie’s early game pressure and their support situation. Whether or not Joey or Olleh plays, the teams needs a more cohesive strategy rather than playing a solo queue style.
Prediction: Team Liquid – $1.59 at Arcanebet
Royal Never Give Up vs. Flash Wolves
5am PST / 8am EST / 2pm CEST
The last bout between the Taiwanese and the Chinese led to a surprise win for Flash Wolves. RNG aims to equalize the series with this match.
Flash Wolves have not necessarily become a flexible team, but rather a team that controls the flow of the game. By consistently making their enemies play their style of game, FW essentially determine where the pieces fall. Their champion pool also allows them to be varied in how they execute their plans.
RNG are also masters of controlling tempo in order to teamfight under Uzi’s banner, but have yet to consistently achieve that goal. However, with a few more days to practice and remedy their problems, they are still on paper the more experienced and powerful team, at least when it comes to pushing a lead.
Prediction: Royal Never Give Up – $1.84 at Arcanebet
Kingzone DragonX vs. EVOS Esports
6am PST / 9am EST / 3pm CEST
KZ end their day with a match against Vietnam’s EVOS Esports. It is a daunting prospect for Warzone and co., but also an opportunity to send shockwaves throughout the tournament.
EVOS pride themselves on high tempo, fast-paced jungle skirmishes that in turn net the team sizable early-game advantages. Using that lead, they can continue to rotate until an opportunity arises for RonOP and Yijin to engage. By contrast, KZ usually see, understand and adapt to their situation, which causes teams plenty of headaches.
Although KZ may not be able to match the early bloodthirstiness of EVOS, they have more than enough skill and mechanics to temper the aggression and pace the match at their level. After all, these guys were top of the pops in Korea – the most recognized League of Legends region in the world.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX – $1.11 at Arcanebet
Team Liquid vs. Fnatic
7am PST / 10am EST / 4pm CEST
Despite the fact that Pobelter blind picked Yasuo in their last bout, Fnatic seem to have a better grasp on just about everything. Team Liquid desperately need this win to have any chance of progressing and, as such, will most likely draft completely meta or comfort champions.
TL need to storm Fnatic using early pressure or deep warding to track down Broxah; otherwise they will be trampled in the midgame by a far more cohesive unit. For Fnatic, Caps looks the most viable playmaker alongside any heavy CC champions. Consequently, Rekkles will most likely have the opportunity to pick any kind of ADC he wants, whether it be something like Sivir for backline shredding or Tristana for the bunny hop executions.
Either way, Fnatic hold the cards and it is up to Team Liquid to call their bluff or fold completely.
Prediction: Fnatic – $1.60 at Arcanebet
]]>Fnatic is still trying to coordinate everything together, making sure Bwipo is up to par when versing world tier top laners and trying to condition Rekkles to his former glory.
On the flip side from the West, Team Liquid is struggling as much as Fnatic to secure a playoff spot, with their early start severly hindering the rest of their progress.
With each team still having six matches to go at the beginning of the day, the standings are not concrete as to which team is assured a semifinal spot. That being said, there are some teams that have a lot of planning to do when looking at the strengh of their remaining matches.
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MORE MSI: MID SEASON INVITATIONAL 2018
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Royal Never Give Up vs Team Liquid
2am PST / 5am EST / 11am CEST
Both RNG and TL have performed as most would have expected – Team Liquid being the average among the bunch while RNG is looking stronger and stronger despite their late arrival to Europe.
TL has had underwhelming performances from Xmithie and Pobelter which in turn has led for nearly uncontested jungle pressure in the early game. Impact has also had limited influence when it comes to matching his laners’ teleports. Conversely, although Mlxg finds it difficult to jungle from behind, that should not be a problem versus TL and Uzi is still looking in his top form.
Betting prediction: Royal Never Give Up to win, paying $1.20 at GG Bet.
Fnatic vs EVOS Esports
3am PST / 6am EST / 12pm CEST
FNC, despite possessing home advantage in this tournament, has been judged severely by their own region for their slow start. EVOS on the other hand is constantly surprising onlookers, not necessarily able to take down the best teams but able to hold their own versus Team Liquid, Fnatic, and Flash Wolves.
Once again, this falls upon whether or not Fnatic can get Rekkles rolling. Although Caps has been the main catalyst for FNC’s plays, he is also the main catalyst for FNC’s mistakes, and putting all the pressure on the mid laner may prove too heavy for the young professional. EVOS’s WarZone and Slay have been performing higher than expectations, but ultimately it falls upon Yijin to shut down any aggression from Broxah to influence the lanes.
Betting prediction: Fnatic to win, paying $1.25 at GG Bet.
Kingzone DragonX vs Flash Wolves
4am PST / 7am EST / 1pm CEST
The Korean emperors face off against Flash Wolves, looking to increase their lead to secure a semifinal spot for the endgame of the tournament.
Off the bat, Kingzone seems to be an upgrade to Flash Wolves in nearly every role. Maple and SwordArt have had great showings and may be the best chance to push a lead, but the problem for FW is developing a lead in the first place. And although FW’s playstyle is flexible enough to play multiple variations of team compositions to counter their opponent, KZ simply is able to do it better with more efficiency, precision and are clear favorites in this matchup.
Betting prediction: Kingzone DragonX to win, paying $1.11 at GG Bet.
Royal Never Give Up vs Fnatic
5am PST / 8am EST / 2pm CEST
The battle of perhaps the teams most reliant on their ADCs transpires in the fourth match of the day.
On paper, Uzi defeates Rekkles in nearly every single statistic for an ADC: damage %, CS difference at 15, kill participation%, KDA. In addition, Xiaohu is a more consistent mid laner than Caps as a whole. If FNC is to secure a win versus RNG, FNC can replicate their first bout with RNG but incorporate Rekkles more as a main carry instead of having Caps run around making amazing plays and then following it up by running face first into the enemy team. As consistency goes, Uzi has been performing as all have expected while the EU MVP still has some question marks in the air surrounding him.
Betting prediction: Royal Never Give Up to win, paying $1.36 at GG Bet.
Flash Wolves vs EVOS Esports
7
6am PST / 9am EST / 3pm CEST
The two mid-tier power regions duke it out yet again to see if Vietnam can stand up to the long term Taiwanese team when it comes to competitive level of play.
EVOS Esports are no strangers to heavy jungle pressure and high level skirmishing whether it be through multiple river encounters or fiestas in the lane. Flash Wolves Betty and Maple have proven to be stable pillars for the team, able to carry the team and provide sufficient variations of teamfighting. Despite Warzone being on point for EVOS, there will have to be a larger amount of pressure coming from anywhere else on the map whether it be from Stark split pushing or crisp rotations to draw FW’s into EVOS’ teamfighting territory.
Betting prediction: Flash Wolves to win, paying $1.28 at GG Bet.
Team Liquid vs Kingzone DragonX
7am PST / 10am EST / 4pm CEST
There is not much to say about this matchup – with Kingzone’s excellent track record, Team Liquid are safely the underdogs across every single lane.
Team Liquid is quite reliant on Doublelift and Pobelter to win the game, as are most teams with their ADC and Mid carries. When battling KZ, neither of these lanes remains a winning matchup when left alone. If jungle pressure intervenes, the chances of Mlxg striking first is that much higher than Xmithie aiding his lanes. It is extremely unlikely that Team Liquid will be able to fulfill their win conditions when it comes to drafting or execution. And even if KZ cannot successfully pull off their team composition’s main goal, their overall strength, mechanics, and coordination should be more than enough to secure victory.
Betting prediction: Kingzone DragonX to win, paying $1.10 at GG Bet.
]]>MORE MSI: MID SEASON INVITATIONAL 2018
MORE TIPS: ESPORTS BETTING PREDICTIONS
MORE NEWS: LATEST ESPORTS NEWS
Kingzone DragonX vs. Fnatic
2am PST / 5am EST / 11am CEST
Despite how the matchup looks, all hope is not lost for FNC. The ‘baby Faker’ Caps was promoted as will unfortunately not be playing Faker, but instead Bdd in the midlane. Caps makes just as many mistakes and outplays as any other midlaner, but Bdd will barely put a foot wrong.
Pray and Gorilla will definitely be targeted by the entirety of FNC to not only be set behind, but also to boost Rekkles’ impact in the game. Playing through Khan in the toplane against the rookie Bwipo or even a recovering sOAZ could be KZ’s ticket to a win, but KZ is strong across the board aplenty.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX
Royal Never Give Up vs. EVOS Esports
3am PST / 6am EST / 12pm CEST
This may prove a dangerous game for RNG, as EVOS’ early skirmishing may stifle Uzi’s ability to transition into the mid-game with ease. However, RNG are the second favorites for a reason – against all odds, no matter how distraught, they have been able to support Uzi and depend on him.
When it comes to early pressure, Yijin from EVOS is no more favored than Mlxg. However, Stark and Warzone may be able to hold off their counterparts as long as jungle pressure does not enter the top or middle lanes.
RNG have one priority here and it is to feed Uzi – because as the game drags on, EVOS becomes less and less cohesive as a unit and teamfighting will undoubtedly go in RNG’s favor.
Prediction: Royal Never Give Up
Team Liquid vs. Flash Wolves
4am PST / 7am EST / 1pm CEST
Flash Wolves are known for their well rounded, macro-style gameplay, as opposed to the botlane focus and linear team composition of Team Liquid. It’s well documented that Impact does not play much in the way of carry, something FW may want to exploit by drafting a split-push toplaner. Moojin and Xmithie, however, will probably end up on opposite sides of the map, aiming to get their own laners ahead.
Wolves will try to control the topside, while TL’s objective will be the botside. The biggest thing to look out for is SwordArt’s roaming versus Olleh’s roaming, as Olleh tends to stick with his ADC until a sizable lead is accrued. If that factor is indeed met, Olleh may have just as much pressure as SwordArt, a terrifying prospect.
Updated: Team Liquid announced earlier today they are going to substitute Joey for Olleh as support, as Joey is largely untested in International tournaments i believe this may give Flash Wolves the edge they need to win.)
Prediction: Flash Wolves
EVOS Esports vs. Kingzone DragonX
5am PST / 8am EST / 2pm CEST
It is unfortunate for EVOS that they have to play the top two teams in this year’s MSI. On paper, Kingzone are stronger in every respect.
In the toplane, there is some ability for Stark to pull off some of his flashy outplays, but almost every other lane is favored for KZ. The botlane is where it open up, with Kingzone’s stars holding a massive advantage.
This matchup hinges on whether or not EVOS can create their playstyle in the early game, or whether they dance to KZ’s beat. The latter is much more likely.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX
Flash Wolves vs. Royal Never Give Up
6am PST / 9am EST / 3pm CEST
Likely the most watched match in the entire day, these two teams have a long standing rivalry as significant as Taiwan and China have in terms of identity.
As good as Betty and SwordArt are, matching up against Uzi and Ming is nearly black and white – SwordArt is the more pronounced player for FW and Uzi for RNG. It is clear what RNG’s strategy will be, and one would think adapting to prevent the focus on botside would be simple, but Xiaohu has the experience and matches at least even with the aggressive-pushing Maple.
RNG simply have to stave off the FW early game pressure that may result in a fiesta botlane. If they can do that, the win should be easily secured.
Prediction: Royal Never Give Up
Fnatic vs. Team Liquid
7am PST / 10am EST / 4pm CEST
The age-old question of which region is stronger, EU or NA, has actually fallen in favor of Europe for the past couple of years. While Team Liquid are newcomers to the international stage as a unit, their players are no strangers to the big time.
Fnatic will play around Rekkles and, to a lesser degree, Caps. Thus, it will fall upon TL to either reduce the impact of such a player or create a better opportunity for themselves. Fortunately, Pobelter is not one to make many mistakes and is more of an opportunist himself, with high reward low-risk plays. Bwipo should also make a lot less headroom with stalwart Impact in the toplane.
Jungle pressure early will be the deciding factor in this game, with Broxah and Xmithie having similar styles and champion pools. Although teamfighting may be FNC’s forte with Rekkles hard carrying, Doublelift does not intend to take a second seat to his European counterpart.
Prediction: Team Liquid
]]>The format of the MSI Main Stage consists of a double round-robin with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs. Every match during the playoffs will be a best-of-five series, with the semi-final matchups being determined by the top seed after the round robin.
The first day of matches will begin on Friday, May 11th and will be paramount in determining international strength. As usual, Kingzone and RNG are heavy favorites in most matchups.
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Fnatic vs. Royal Never Give Up
2am PST / 5am EST / 11am CEST
Fnatic and Royal Never Give Up are both interesting teams in that they completely rely on their ADCs to carry out games. As a result, the Rekkles vs. Uzi matchup is sure to send sparks flying in the botlane. Fnatic will bring sOAZ in addition to Bwipo for their toplane flexibility.
On the flip side, RNG will not be able to bring their large roster to the tournament as each team is only allowed five main players and one substitute. Letme and Mlxg will start in top and jungle, with either Zztai or Karsa as the substitute.
Matchup wise, RNG should be able to secure the midlane and toplane. Mlxg versus Broxah in the jungle will depend heavily on the former’s mindset and which side of the double-edged sword he decides to bring. Although on paper RNG should win the botlane, one can never count out Rekkles when it comes to carrying the team.
Prediction: Royal Never Give Up – $1.42 at Arcanebet
EVOS Esports vs. Flash Wolves
3am PST / 6am EST / 12pm CEST
The two teams making it out of the play-in stage face each other sooner rather than later. Although they have taken the longer route, both teams can be considered comparable in power to their rivals from the four mainstream regions.
EVOS sport immense jungling pressure in the form of Yijin. That should make for a fierce matchup against Moojin, who completely rendered Gambit’s Diamondprox ineffective for three games.
That being said, FW Maple, SwordArt and Betty have much more experience than their counterparts and will effectively control the bottom side of the map unless Yijin decides to camp the bottom side. Stark and Hanabi are both top laners that are very affected by jungle pressure, but left to their own devices, Stark has had a better showing as of late.
Prediction: Flash Wolves – $1.34 at Arcanebet
Team Liquid vs. Kingzone DragonX
4am PST / 7am EST / 1pm CEST
Perhaps the most hyped team in the entire tournament, Kingzone DragonX, take on North American heroes Team Liquid. Although predictions will be one sided, this game has the potential to become the most unorthodox game of the day.
It would not be surprising if KZ’s Peanut controlled every quadrant of the jungle through simple pressure. Pray and Gorilla from KZ are heralded as the best botlane in Korea, which should hold true against the TL duo of Doublelift and Olleh.
Pobelter and Bdd duke it out in midlane, but again KZ’s Bdd would be favored in this matchup. Khan in the top may be the only lane that is not entirely KZ favored as he is facing off against the world known Impact.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX – $1.17 at Arcanebet
Flash Wolves vs. Fnatic
5am PST / 8am EST / 2pm CEST
The Taiwanese representatives face off against the European veterans in the fourth match of the day. Both teams sport impressive rosters, with most players possessing experience on the international stage.
Flash Wolves hold the clear advantage in the top and jungle, as Hanabi should be able to put Bwipo on the backfoot while Moojin’s pressure in the jungle is overbearing for most teams. Even FNC’s ace in the hole in botlane can be stifled by SwordArt’s shotcalling and intelligent laning phase and rotations.
In every respect, FW should have an advantage on paper for each lane, but FNC’s ability to split the game wide open by leaning heavily on Rekkles will prove incredibly advantageous as the mid-game comes to fruition.
Prediction: Fnatic – $1.60 at Arcanebet
Team Liquid vs. EVOS Esports
6am PST / 9am EST / 3pm CEST
Team Liquid will face Vietnamese up-and-comers EVOS Esports in fifth contest of the day. When it comes to proven veterans and international experience, EVOS are not far behind their American counterparts.
Comparing the botlanes, Slay and RonOP will need to bring their best to outplay Doublelift and Olleh. In addition, Pobelter is also favored to beat Warzone despite EVOS’ performance in the earlier match this week.
Yijin and Stark, however, are favored to pressure and control the topside of the jungle, and will be the catalyst for creating plays across the map. And when it comes to Vietnamese early pressure versus North American early-game dependence, the scales tend to tip away from Liquid.
Prediction: EVOS Esports – $2.69 at Arcanebet
Royal Never Give Up vs. Kingzone DragonX
7AM PST / 10AM EST / 4PM CEST
That undisputed match of the day sees the champions of China and Korea trade blows in a clash that could foreshadow the finals.
Normally, one would say Uzi is uncontested in the botlane, but if anybody in the MSI can match him, it is KZ’s Pray and Gorilla. Although Mlxg at his best might be even better than Peanut, anything less than that and he will be forfeiting his jungle pressure and rotations.
The toplane might prove cataclysmic as well, with both these top laners tending to strut their stuff by playing bruisers rather straight-up tanks for teamfighting. This match solely comes down to a question of coherent each team can coordinate with each other.
Prediction: Kingzone DragonX – $1.45 at Arcanebet
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