🕹️ Esports 🎮 Prediction & Discussion Thread

[dothebeats]

Team Liquid and Vitality ruined a lot of bets today. All of the favorites to win the matches today all lose.

That 15-7 lead that went to overtime that eventually resulted in a loss must be very painful. I was sure in pain watching it. They just needed a round, but they could not close it. Choke was real.

So that 2-0 win of Team Liquid against C9 in the group stage is not a fluke. They prove that they can really win against a stronger team. From round of 12 to the Grand Finals, what a cinderella story we got here. I think they are in a roll and could actually win the championship. What do you think guys?

Pressure got into them. You can tell how tense they were when the camera pans into them. M0nesy is hitting a lot of great shots but that isn't enough when the rest of your team is at a loss on what they're doing. He also missed some crucial shots as well that could have helped them extend their lead against Vitality. Pretty painful to watch it closed down like that a G2 fan. Imagine feeling excited with just 1 round away from winning and then all of a sudden, one full buy and a couple of rounds later G2 is struggling to find kills and penetrate the site.

[CLS63]

I'm satisfied with going for Vitality on my bet. After seeing the opportunity I wouldn't have liked to miss it.

However I must admit that I wasn't waiting for a 2-0 victory for Vitality. I thought that it would have been a much more competitive matchup and Vitality would hardly defeat them 2-1. Map scores would have been very close too. It was like that on Inferno maybe but G2 were very bad on Mirage. I don't know how they managed to play on CT side this much badly. They got only one round there which caused them to lose the map by a big score like 16-8. It would be too harsh to expect m0NESY to carry his team all the time. They needed to play well as a whole.

Anyway now I'm going for Vitality for the championship. Liquid are really strong indeed but I don't think that they have the capacity to beat Vitality in the finale as well. If they do it would be a huge surprise for many people certainly.

[blue_hurricanger]

^^^ G2 is always crumbled under pressure. Didn't see why they were able to beat Navi but they show their true color when matching up with Vitality. Never brought in the G2 hooxi gigachad meme. Dude is a good igl, got some strats to counter the top-tier teams but that's it. Will never solve the G2's problem where players too easily choke and buckle under the pressure.

The final match of ESL between Vitality and Liquid seems poorly match up. Liquid surpassed everyone's expectation to get this far into the game, but I don't see they've any chance against Vitality here. This time bookies get the odd right, with Liquid at 2.9-3.0 and 1.3-1.4 for Vitality.

[jakelyson]

The final match of ESL between Vitality and Liquid seems poorly match up. Liquid surpassed everyone's expectation to get this far into the game, but I don't see they've any chance against Vitality here. This time bookies get the odd right, with Liquid at 2.9-3.0 and 1.3-1.4 for Vitality.

They have beaten stronger teams than Vitality so I would not count them out just yet. The Finals is not what we all expected it would have been, but these teams fought their way into it. They deserve the credit for getting this far. I will not underestimate team Liquid just because they are underdog. They are on a roll and sometimes momentum is hard to stop. They could steal this finals from Vitality if they underestimate this team.

I think I would risk some to Team Liquid. @2.9 odd is a good one and worth it to risk some. Also betting on +1.5 handicap just in case.

[ralle14]

I think I would risk some to Team Liquid. @2.9 odd is a good one and worth it to risk some. Also betting on +1.5 handicap just in case.

That moneyline and handicap pick for Team Liquid is already looking good now that they're up one map after taking their first map pick Inferno. I'm just hoping it goes back and forth as I have a bit of stake on the over 4.5 maps and Vitality's live odds are somewhat tempting to grab as they're currently hovering between 1.8 to 1.9.

[arallmuus]

as I have a bit of stake on the over 4.5 maps

Liquid won the 3rd one so now you'll need Vitality to win the next one. 3rd one ended up in overtime so actually both teams are pretty much equal though. As for the 1st and 2 map, both teams ended up winning it with the exact same score of 16-7. Still considering on taking an upset Vitality to win this on live bet, not sure if this is going to be worth it though as Im leaning on Liuid to win

[ILuckyGuyI]

Liquid are playing very impressively at the moment. They were the underdog on paper of course because Vitality are normally a stronger team considering the general quality of their roster. Vitality's recent form was also great. However bookmakers underestimated Liquid quite much considering the odds given. It was definitely worth betting on them and enjoying the final series (BO5).

Liquid are in the lead by 2-1 in the series. Now we are on Overpass which is Vitality's pick. However Liquid are the better side currently and they've just ended the first half 8-7 ahead. I still don't think that the series is ending here. Vitality would find a way to win this map hopefully. But the worrying thing for them is that this is a CT sided map normally. If Liquid play CT side stronger than them then they can finish the job by 3-1.

[jakelyson]

Liquid are playing very impressively at the moment. They were the underdog on paper of course because Vitality are normally a stronger team considering the general quality of their roster. Vitality's recent form was also great. However bookmakers underestimated Liquid quite much considering the odds given. It was definitely worth betting on them and enjoying the final series (BO5).

Liquid are in the lead by 2-1 in the series. Now we are on Overpass which is Vitality's pick. However Liquid are the better side currently and they've just ended the first half 8-7 ahead. I still don't think that the series is ending here. Vitality would find a way to win this map hopefully. But the worrying thing for them is that this is a CT sided map normally. If Liquid play CT side stronger than them then they can finish the job by 3-1.

Liquid is up 12-9 and my bet is looking good. 4 more rounds and Liquid will be crowning themselves champions. But Vitality is coming back after they save and went pistol but won the round. They have money now for full guns. Let's see if they can pull a comeback.

[dothebeats]

Liquid are playing very impressively at the moment. They were the underdog on paper of course because Vitality are normally a stronger team considering the general quality of their roster. Vitality's recent form was also great. However bookmakers underestimated Liquid quite much considering the odds given. It was definitely worth betting on them and enjoying the final series (BO5).

Liquid are in the lead by 2-1 in the series. Now we are on Overpass which is Vitality's pick. However Liquid are the better side currently and they've just ended the first half 8-7 ahead. I still don't think that the series is ending here. Vitality would find a way to win this map hopefully. But the worrying thing for them is that this is a CT sided map normally. If Liquid play CT side stronger than them then they can finish the job by 3-1.

Liquid is up 12-9 and my bet is looking good. 4 more rounds and Liquid will be crowning themselves champions. But Vitality is coming back after they save and went pistol but won the round. They have money now for full guns. Let's see if they can pull a comeback.

Liquid's comms game is on another level. Yekindar scouting lots of obvious hits from T-side on Overpass and relaying the info, then an instant CT rotation is impressive. You can tell that this guy can perform like a beast under pressure and it shows. Sadly though Vitality managed to sneak 1 map from Liquid and it's an even score on the board now. Great A hit from Vitality on the last round of OVP to close it off. Apex is on another level on these T-sides lately.

[jakelyson]

Liquid are playing very impressively at the moment. They were the underdog on paper of course because Vitality are normally a stronger team considering the general quality of their roster. Vitality's recent form was also great. However bookmakers underestimated Liquid quite much considering the odds given. It was definitely worth betting on them and enjoying the final series (BO5).

Liquid are in the lead by 2-1 in the series. Now we are on Overpass which is Vitality's pick. However Liquid are the better side currently and they've just ended the first half 8-7 ahead. I still don't think that the series is ending here. Vitality would find a way to win this map hopefully. But the worrying thing for them is that this is a CT sided map normally. If Liquid play CT side stronger than them then they can finish the job by 3-1.

Liquid is up 12-9 and my bet is looking good. 4 more rounds and Liquid will be crowning themselves champions. But Vitality is coming back after they save and went pistol but won the round. They have money now for full guns. Let's see if they can pull a comeback.

Liquid's comms game is on another level. Yekindar scouting lots of obvious hits from T-side on Overpass and relaying the info, then an instant CT rotation is impressive. You can tell that this guy can perform like a beast under pressure and it shows. Sadly though Vitality managed to sneak 1 map from Liquid and it's an even score on the board now. Great A hit from Vitality on the last round of OVP to close it off. Apex is on another level on these T-sides lately.

I jinxed my bet, didn't I? Vitality was able to come back from that eco round in overpass to force an overtime and win and the map.

Then they have a huge lead in Vertigo to open up the second round. Team Liquid was able to crawl back and force Vitality again for an eco-round but Vitality once again won an eco-round and never looked back.

Congratulations Vitality for winning EPL Season 16. It was a good Counter Strike. They deserve the win.

[dothebeats]

Liquid are playing very impressively at the moment. They were the underdog on paper of course because Vitality are normally a stronger team considering the general quality of their roster. Vitality's recent form was also great. However bookmakers underestimated Liquid quite much considering the odds given. It was definitely worth betting on them and enjoying the final series (BO5).

Liquid are in the lead by 2-1 in the series. Now we are on Overpass which is Vitality's pick. However Liquid are the better side currently and they've just ended the first half 8-7 ahead. I still don't think that the series is ending here. Vitality would find a way to win this map hopefully. But the worrying thing for them is that this is a CT sided map normally. If Liquid play CT side stronger than them then they can finish the job by 3-1.

Liquid is up 12-9 and my bet is looking good. 4 more rounds and Liquid will be crowning themselves champions. But Vitality is coming back after they save and went pistol but won the round. They have money now for full guns. Let's see if they can pull a comeback.

Liquid's comms game is on another level. Yekindar scouting lots of obvious hits from T-side on Overpass and relaying the info, then an instant CT rotation is impressive. You can tell that this guy can perform like a beast under pressure and it shows. Sadly though Vitality managed to sneak 1 map from Liquid and it's an even score on the board now. Great A hit from Vitality on the last round of OVP to close it off. Apex is on another level on these T-sides lately.

I jinxed my bet, didn't I? Vitality was able to come back from that eco round in overpass to force an overtime and win and the map.

Then they have a huge lead in Vertigo to open up the second round. Team Liquid was able to crawl back and force Vitality again for an eco-round but Vitality once again won an eco-round and never looked back.

Congratulations Vitality for winning EPL Season 16. It was a good Counter Strike. They deserve the win.

You can see how tense Team Liquid became after they lost with a full buy. I know that they are disadvantaged on the T-side but man their CT side are sloppy in Vertigo as well. Lots of times Apex and Dupreeh just cleans them out in obvious spots that should be known to them. Yekindar also seemed to feel nervous as he whiffed lots of times in Vertigo when he was literally popping off in OVP.

Anyways, better luck next bet! TI is in for next week and I can't wait to get the Dota season started.

[STT]

NA teams have a bias towards momentum, if they are halted in their game substantially money broke etc. it can be a good time to close out a bet even if they are still way ahead.    Doesnt have to be true of all them but they tend to lack the best IGL and discipline to their play, I hope Liquid prove me wrong as almost every team that has success has alot of anti strat work by other top teams bought in to bear against them so failures during a series are normal.  The game vs Vitality was very close, hope they resolve to do even better and learn from it.

[sunsilk]

Anyways, better luck next bet! TI is in for next week and I can't wait to get the Dota season started.

I am excited about that and a few hours ago, there were the matches for the BTS PRO in SEA. And later, it's round 1 of the playoffs and it may not be interesting teams but Boom and Fnatic is part of it.

I've looked at the matches for the LCQ, so, it's going to be 4 matches at the same time for group stages during the opening day.

Too many actions and exciting matches are about to come. I've seen a post from Team Secret and they're already in Malaysia and that's near to the venue, Singapore.

[jakelyson]

Anyways, better luck next bet! TI is in for next week and I can't wait to get the Dota season started.

I am waiting for that as well. 5 more days to go before the Last Chance Qualifier starts.

It will be a good DOTA since all teams will be going full force from the start. This is their last chance to enter TI and I know they will give everything to win the last two slots.

So many good teams to watch and hard to choose which match to watch and bet on since the games will be simultaneous during the group stage. I will focus on teams that I am quite familiar with like Secret, Liquid, Polaris, VP, and T1.

Hopefully, I'll have a good run this time. Did not have a good outcome in the Regional Qualifiers.

[blue_hurricanger]

NA teams have a bias towards momentum, if they are halted in their game substantially money broke etc. it can be a good time to close out a bet even if they are still way ahead.    Doesnt have to be true of all them but they tend to lack the best IGL and discipline to their play, I hope Liquid prove me wrong as almost every team that has success has alot of anti strat work by other top teams bought in to bear against them so failures during a series are normal.  The game vs Vitality was very close, hope they resolve to do even better and learn from it.

That momentum build-up and carrying the game wasn't a thing in NA. It was mostly because of teams from American organizers or American individualism that allow star players to make surprise calls or plays. I remember SK Gaming in their era didn't have this momentum tho their players are from Brazil. Right now, with the influence of both EU and South American, NA teams are more likely to adopt that play style, prefer discipline over momentum build-up by the star players.

I also think only a few teams right now that play well under the pressure or stressful Bo5 games:
_Vitality, obvious cause they're all well-experienced players, has been thru a lot of big CSGO events.
_Navi, kinda sad cause with Bo3 or Bo1, they don't have enough time to show off this special talent.
_Faze, maybe, karrigan is a super igl and doesn't scare over a long period of the game, still don't know why Faze lost to Cloud9.
_Heroic, define the underdog mentality, can comeback no matter how bad their situation is.

Anyways, Liquid did their best honestly. I thought it would be a much faster game for Vitality, 3-1 if in map 3, Vitality end it without dragging to the OT.

[emrecemsan]

Congrats to Vitality on this hard-fought win over Liquid by 3-2!

It was such a lovely series to watch. Liquid proved themselves to be a really strong and dangerous team despite not winning the championship. Actually they had a big advantage while they were 2-1 ahead in the series. But Vitality were still mentally solid and they made a huge comeback which deserved the appreciation. Mirage and Overpass maps were the most exciting ones as there was a high level of competition and both of them ended after OT. On Vertigo which was the last map, Vitality showed a solid performance and got the win by 16-11.

For Liquid side, YEKINDAR performed as always. NAF's performance was also quite impressive. For Vitality side, ZywOo had a superb series. Especially his 51-kill effort on Mirage despite losing the map was incredible. I believe he was the most performing player of his team. Magisk was on another level too in general. dupreeh wasn't very effective mostly but his contribution to the win on Overpass was crucial. He got a really important clutch there also.

[boltz]

We are in the month of DOTA 2 TI. Until then , we just entered into the week with last chance to qualify for TI and I must say that Secret is doing massive training for this games and I heard that Puppey is simply not accepting the fact that there is a chance for Secret to miss TI + the fact that they have a really massive fan base in Singapore and Asia so I do hope this is true and they are training like no other training session.

[Pulsar77]

Before the ESL Pro League started I didn't have any expectation like FaZe and NaVi would be eliminated this much early. I thought that they would even face each other in the grand final.

But they both were eliminated shockingly and quite early. They both were gone after the quarter final matchups. Maybe I can understand NaVi because their opponent was G2 which were much stronger than before. But FaZe should have been able to get past Cloud9. Despite Cloud9's being a strong team also FaZe were still a more complete team than them. But there is a huge decrease in their performance these days.

I really appreciate Liquid and Vitality both for fighting hard in the final. They equally deserved to be champions due to huge efforts but Vitality had the last word by coming back from a 2-1 disadvantage.

[Trofo]

We are in the month of DOTA 2 TI. Until then , we just entered into the week with last chance to qualify for TI and I must say that Secret is doing massive training for this games and I heard that Puppey is simply not accepting the fact that there is a chance for Secret to miss TI + the fact that they have a really massive fan base in Singapore and Asia so I do hope this is true and they are training like no other training session.

Can't wait for that last chance qualifier to start, watching DOTA in the meantime to get feel for the meta and building up my bank for the real thing. I am glad these tournaments we have at the moment progressed to knockout stages and BO3 games. Just feel so much more comfortable betting on BO3, BO2 always produces some strange combinations.

[arallmuus]

I am glad these tournaments we have at the moment progressed to knockout stages and BO3 games.

Well business wise, its always good to drag this yearly tournament as long as possible to milk in more money from sponsors as they can set up booth and whatsoever during the tournaments. Viewers wise, no complaint as I'd love to watch this tournament for weeks long so yeah everything is just straight up great ( except for the prizepool, kinda expecting it to be atleast 30 millions or something )