The Intel Extreme Masters Season XII World Championship is shaping up to be a stacked tournament, with 16 teams each looking to emerge above the rest. All six of the favourites are currently attending StarLadder Season 4, with all but Cloud9 making it through the opening group stage.
SK and FaZe Clan the ones to beat
The two most consistent teams are SK Gaming and FaZe Clan, given their overall talent and extended period of success. FaZe Clan are a team based more on firepower than tactics, with an all-star lineup complemented by a loose style of play. With only consistent struggles against SK, FaZe are a dangerous team with a healthy map pool, and dominate their opponents from the get-go.
The biggest hurdle for FaZe looks to be SK Gaming, who are looking to prove themselves with boltz in the lineup following a decent showing at the Major with Felps. SK are the more tactical of the two, with a focus on playing around the likes of coldzera and fer typically leading to their success. One concern for SK has been their map pool, given the status of their play on Nuke – which they ban every game – and Inferno, which, while still decent, is substantially weaker than the level of their other maps. SK have shown occasional weakness, dropping 1-2 to mousesports during Starladder recently, but the Brazilian side overall continue to be a mainstay deep into tournaments.
Cloud 9 have challenges
Cloud9, coming off their win at the Major, have shown some signs of weakness, falling in the finals of the CS Summit 2 to Team Liquid, as well as dropping out in the group stage of Starladder. To be fair to the talented North American side, they did fall to FaZe, SK, and mousesports – three top teams. Cloud9’s biggest issue is currently their map pool, where teams are realising their issues on both Cache and Train, while banning away their Overpass, a map that emerged during their Major run as one of their best. Cloud9 are still one of the most talented teams in the world, playing in a similar style to FaZe. Even with their recent struggles, Cloud9 are still expected to advance into the playoffs, where the momentum-based side could once again go on a deep run.
G2 Esports lack consistency
The three remaining squads have their fair share of skepticism around them, given either recent roster moves or an overall inability to find consistency. G2 Esports are the aforementioned inconsistent side, with arguably the highest of highs and lowest of lows in all of Counter-Strike today. A wealth of talent is unfortunately hindered by poor shot-calling and an overall lack of continual identity from map to map. G2’s performances over the last year are perfectly summed up by their recent showing at the Major; they swept the group stage before falling completely flat in the quarterfinals (0-2).
NAF the key for Team Liquid
Team Liquid, on the other hand, have enjoyed a nice rise in play ever since the addition of NAF, who has continued his dominance from his time on Renegades. Liquid have surprisingly adapted well to nitr0 becoming the primary AWPer, with multiple star players able to single-handedly carry a map. The only concern for Liquid is their lack of time together as a five-man unit, but they already have decent wins under their belt with series wins over SK, Cloud9, and mousesports. Liquid look like a top team, but their recent meteoric rise leaves some skeptical of their success sustainability.
Astralis still something of a wildcard
Astralis are the final favourite, given they have a history of consistency, as well as a decent supply of skill and tactics within their roster. The addition of Magisk in place of Kjaerbye has looked decent so far, with a series win over Liquid being their best result with the new lineup. Astralis, prior to their slump to end 2017, were known as one of the most consistent teams at securing a playoff spot even in the deepest of fields. Astralis are still a bit of an unknown entity, but a playoff placing is more than expected of the Danish side.
With a $250,000 first-place prize on the line, all eyes will be on the Spodek Arena in Katowice in Poland next week in what shapes up to be a fascinating event.
