FaZe Clan vs Gambit Esports

IEM Oakland 2017 Day 2,

Here we are at day 2 of IEM Oakland and yesterday we got to see what each team is bringing to the table. Which is a very good insight to this matchup we have here today.

Gambit:

Gambit has been very much underperforming at this event. Losing their first game to Optic, which i personally did not expect. They went on with their later two games against Team Liquid and G2 Esports, forcing overtime in both maps, but ultimately losing out due to them not being able to close out games. I expect this trend to continue and it will most likely be Gambit and MongolZ who fall first this week.

Yesterday we got to see the few favorite maps that Gambit prefers to play. Which are the maps "Train", "Mirage", and "Overpass". Which i feel as though they will continue to play these maps and try to find some success. The map record on "Train" now falls to a negative total of 12 wins and 13 loses. "Mirage" still remains positive with 11 wins and now 4 loses. I expect mirage to be the favorite map of Gambit to continue this tournament. Why "Overpass" was played is still a mystery to me. In recent for their record is now 2 wins to 4 loses. Let's hope they keep that map out of their lineup.

FaZe:

Faze has been exceptional this event. Going 3-0 already in yesterdays best of one's. Defeating decent teams like G2 Esports, and Optic Gaming. If you notice, Faze have beaten all the teams that have beaten Gambit. Now Counter Strike isn't as simple as beating the team that beat someone else makes you better than that team. But it does help the fact that FaZe can handle teams of different calibers.

Map choices for Faze are pretty wide, as a different players on the team prefer different maps. Which allows the players to play well no matter what maps they decide to pick against their opponent. Starting with their most winning map "Inferno" to which Faze sits at a comfortable record of 14-3. Followed up by "Mirage" at 15-5. Then to "Overpass" at 13-3. "Cache" stands at a record of 9-4. "Train" is at 5-4. And then we have their 2 unfavored maps that they sit have a 50% win rate on; "Nuke" with a record of 3-3 and "Cobblestone" at 2-2.

Map Pick/Ban:

From the looks of most played maps and map picks for far this event, both have played "Overpass". But knowing Gambit, after that loss yesterday, i doubt they will try that against Faze who took two solid victories on the map yesterday. I expect FaZe to go right after Gambit and force their hand at their best map "Mirage". If this is the case, I would expect a decent game, but "Mirage" is also FaZe's main map.

Final Thoughts:

Looking at the contrasting record of these two teams and how well FaZe has been playing, compared to how poorly Gambit's performance has been. I will favor FaZe in any map matchup, although i expect "Mirage" to be picked and played. Other likely maps include "Train" and "Cache". Hope to see a good game non the less!