Can Astralis Dominate the ELEAGUE Major?
After a series of impressive finishes, including a flawless performance at the ECS Season 2 Finals, Astralis has cemented themselves as an elite esports team. Many consider them the best in the world right now, especially with SK Gaming’s roster changes and recent victories against OpTic Gaming. But what has caused Astralis to dominate, especially considering their struggles just two months ago? Let’s take a closer look.
Strong Tactical Base and Newfound Confidence
Astralis combines a strong tactical base with the newfound confidence of tactician Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander. The team also relies on the skills of veteran superstar Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz. Dev1ce, the team’s main AWPer, is not only proficient with the AWP but also highly capable with rifles and pistols.
Dev1ce’s Stability and the “Danish Choking” Meme
While dev1ce may not be the most flashy player, his stability and smoothness on both T and CT sides have contributed to Astralis’ success. However, there have been instances where he has struggled under pressure in high-stakes games. If Astralis wants to win the major, they will need dev1ce to perform consistently and overcome the “Danish choking” stereotype.
The Importance of Dupreeh and Kjaerbye
Astralis’ fall in performance earlier this year was partly due to a dip in play by Peter “dupreeh” Rothmann and Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjaebye. Fortunately, both players have shown improvement in recent events, with dupreeh highlighting his entry skills and Kjaerbye adapting well to gla1ve’s system. These two players need to support dev1ce consistently in order for Astralis to succeed.
A Stellar Support Staff
Astralis benefits from having one of the best support staffs in the esports scene. Gla1ve and Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth play crucial roles in supporting the stars of the team. Xyp9x, known for his consistency as a support rifler, is the backbone of the Danish core.
A Nuanced Map Pool
Astralis boasts one of the most versatile map pools in CS:GO. They excel on maps like Overpass, Dust II, and Cache. While they tend to veto Cobblestone, their recent losses on the map came against exceptional teams. Additionally, Astralis strategically caters their map vetoes to their opponents, which gives them an edge in the game.
With all these factors in their favor, Astralis has a great chance of performing well in the ELEAGUE Major. The team’s consistency against weaker opponents and their ability to adapt to different map scenarios make them a strong contender for the title. We’ll see how they fare in the upcoming tournament!