G2 Esports vs Cloud9

For our final match of the day we have an absolute barnburner; one that carries with it a metric ton of hype and momentum. It is a clash between two Western regions, and two beloved Western teams. Both G2 Esports and Cloud9 have been able to thrive and persevere on the international stage throughout the years. They are two of the most capable, flexible and resilient teams the West has to offer, and it's been like this for years.

So it is only natural that such a clash attracts attention.

That said, they're entering the tournament with noticeably different narratives. On one hand, we have Cloud9. A team that, although extremely capable and talented, simply wasn't able to find a way to solve the Liquid dilemma. That's not a knock on them in any way per se, but it is indicative of their overall power level. That said, Cloud9 always found an avenue towards success on the international stage, and they're looking to dominate once again this time around.

This time around, however, they're slotted in a nightmarish group. It's hard seeing them getting out when you have the likes of LCK's Griffin and LEC's G2 Esports in there as well, two teams of unparalleled strength and mechanical prowess. They are by no means perfect, but the sheer amount of talent and skill present within their two line-ups is staggering.

Speaking of G2, the LEC champions -- who also happen to be one of the favorites to win the whole tournament -- wasted no time once the Group Stage began as they quickly disposed of Griffin in one-sided fashion. It was a statement game by all metrics, and it goes to show just how capable the European titans really are. Cloud9 doesn't exactly present a much harder challenge, nor are they a complicated, unsolvable puzzle. They're a known quantity, and you know how they want to play the game out, which makes preparation that much easier.

G2 Esports are favored in this one and with good reason. Betting against them would mean betting against good reason. They might not blow Cloud9 out of the water tonight, but they have all the right tools in order to get the win and continue their dominant run. They're prepared for any kind of scenario and their mental fortitude and resilience are second-to-none. They're as well-rounded as possible, and should be more than capable of taking Cloud9 down in relatively clean fashion.