This is the final part of four articles breaking down the four Katowice groups
The Teams
Virtus.Pro: neo, TaZ, byali, Snax, pasha
Virtus.Pro, the champions of last year’s event, has consistently challenged for titles at any event they participate in. However, they have been underperforming lately. Their mediocre LAN results mean that they have something to prove going into the Katowice tournament. Look for Snax, byali, and pasha to play well if Virtus.Pro wants to win on their home soil.
TSM Kinguin: karrigan, device, dupreeh, Xyp9x, cajunb
TSM, previously known as Team dignitas, had a disappointing Dreamhack tournament. They will be looking to get rid of their reputation as “chokers” and make it far in the competition. TSM has made changes to improve their T-side strategies and made device the main AWPer. With these changes, TSM may have what it takes to go all the way in Katowice.
Cloud9 G2A: ShahZaM, n0thing, shroud, seangares, semphis
Cloud9 has always done well at majors, but their poor results at Dreamhack and the ESEA LAN led to Hiko leaving the team. They picked up AWPer ShahZaM as a replacement. For Cloud9 to succeed, they will need ShahZaM to play well with the AWP and consistent play from n0thing and shroud. C9 will have to prove if the changes have made them better or if they still have the same problems.
3DMAX: xartE, natu, diSTURBED, stonde, KHRN
3DMAX has lost their best player and one of the best AWPers in the world, allu. This loss makes them an underdog in the group and it is unlikely they will win a single game. They will have to rely on stonde to step up in allu’s absence. 3DMAX may have enough talent to possibly grind out a win, but they cannot afford any mistakes.
The Matchups
Cloud9 and TSM will face off in a rematch of ESL Cologne. TSM has shown that they can beat top teams, while C9 has been inconsistent. TSM is known for their consistency, while C9 will need a big game from n0thing and shroud. TSM and VP will be a great match should it happen. Virtus.Pro’s underwhelming performance could give TSM a chance, but VP should have learned from their disappointing experiences and be prepared. 3DMAX will have a tough time against VP, and they are too inconsistent to challenge TSM. C9 is a winnable matchup for 3DMAX, but C9 has better players and should have the advantage.
3DMAX will have a tough time facing off against Virtus.Pro. VP will have something to prove in front of their home crowd. It will be difficult for 3DMAX to pull off an upset, especially without their key player allu. VP should easily win, and 3DMAX is too inconsistent to challenge TSM. C9 is a more winnable matchup for 3DMAX, but C9 has better players. It would be a major upset to see 3DMAX get a victory, but if they can take advantage of inconsistent play from any of their opponents, they have enough talent to possibly win.
Players to Watch
- ShahZaM
ShahZaM will be making his major debut and he will need to perform well if Cloud9 wants to avoid a repeat of Dreamhack. He will have to compete with some of the best AWPers in Europe. His presence as a dedicated AWPer gives C9 a different dimension and they cannot afford a shaky start from ShahZaM to advance.
- pasha
pasha needs to return to his 2014 form where he was seen as one of the top players in the world. When he performs well, Virtus.Pro is hard to stop. His struggles have caused the team to struggle as well. Fortunately, pasha performs well at majors and VP can rely on him to win on their home soil.
- device
device is one of TSM’s best players, but he has a tendency to fail on the big stage. Katowice offers him a fresh start with a new in-game leader and a new role as the team’s primary AWPer. This is his chance to remove the stigma around him and show that he is one of the best players in the world.
Final Group Predictions
Group Winner – Virtus.Pro
Runner up – TSM Kinguin
Second Team Eliminated – Cloud9 G2A
First Team Eliminated – 3DMAX