Group B at ESL One Cologne – Five Storylines to Watch
ESL One Cologne is about to kick off with the ninth major of CS:GO, and Group B promises to be a thrilling and underrated group. Here are five storylines to keep an eye on:
The Teams in Group B
Natus Vincere
Ninjas in Pyjamas
OpTic Gaming
FlipSid3 Tactics
1. The Underrated Group
This group has been flying under the radar, but it promises to be an exciting one. Na`Vi and NiP are two of the world’s top teams and champions of previous events. The surprising element here is that all the teams in Group B share a common map pool. This means that we can expect intense and competitive matches on maps that all the teams are comfortable playing on.
While some teams have slight advantages on certain maps like Na`Vi on overpass and NiP on cache, opponents can simply ban those out. This makes every game in this group unpredictable and thrilling.
2. No Excuses for Na`Vi
Na`Vi, being one of the world’s best teams, shouldn’t have any excuses after this group stage. As all the teams in the group are willing to play two of Na`Vi’s best maps, they should be able to dominate and win the group. If they can’t secure victories on their preferred maps like cbble and train, the blame will lie solely on themselves.
3. A Test for NiP’s Strength
This group will be a barometer for NiP’s strength as they face opponents who are strong on train and cbble. With opponents like OpTic and Na`Vi, NiP will have to prove their worth on these maps to contend for the title at ESL One Cologne. This will be a true test for the new NiP lineup under in-game leader THREAT.
4. OpTic’s Opportunity
OpTic, as the third seed, has landed a favorable group with opponents who are ready to let them play on their best maps. With recent performances against NiP, OpTic has the potential to cause some upsets and secure a spot in the playoffs. They have shown a solid system and execution, making them a team to watch out for in this group.
5. What Can B1ad3 Do?
While the shared map pool doesn’t necessarily favor FlipSid3 Tactics, it does provide an opportunity for their in-game leader, B1ad3, to showcase his tactical approach. Known for taking sub-par lineups and pushing them to their limits, B1ad3’s performance in this group will add another chapter to his legacy. It will be interesting to see if F3 can contend for a playoff spot and surprise the stronger teams in the group.
Be sure to check out my video breaking down the specific match-ups in this group and my map pool breakdown. Stay tuned for more articles and videos!
Photo credit: ESL and Dreamhack