NRG vs Astralis

IEM Sydney 2018 ,

Tip two of IEM Sydney is coming at you with teams Astralis and NRG playing in the group stages hoping to advance and make the main stage. Both of these teams have something to prove to the world right now and though they might be different they both mean a lot to each individual team. Astralis is trying to prove to the world that they are the number one team and have the potential to win back to back events. While NRG is trying to prove to the world and themselves that they can do much more than win online matches. Let's break these teams down further.

Astralis :

After winning the large event of Dreamhack Marseille, Astralis find themselves on their way to Australia for IEM Sydney to hopefully win back to back events. All members of the team are in excellent shape. Most notibly Device is becoming one of the best and most stand out AWPers, Glave is probably the best in game leader in all of Counter Strike right now, and the young danish talent of Magisk is holding up with the best of the best Danish players. This is a team to never count out and Astralis are one team to be on the lookout for this event.

Astralis's maps are as followed ; Inferno is 18-6, Mirage is 13-5, Overpass is 10-4, Train is 7-3, Nuke is 7-1, Cache is 3-2, and Dust 2 has yet to be played

NRG :

In their ever so present online status, NRG have a reputation of beating very high level North American teams in both of their ECS and ESL Pro Leagues. However NRG have never been on LAN to prove themselves to the world that not only can they be a threat in online leagues, they can also out do teams on LAN. This will be the first LAN that this current NRG lineup will be participating in and I look forward to see how they will play against Astralis but also against the other leaders of the international pack.

NRG's maps are as followed ; Mirage is 14-3, Inferno is 11-6, Overpass is 11-2, Train is 8-3, Cache is 7-2, Nuke is 5-1, and Dust 2 has yet to be played

Map Pick/Ban :

The group stages for IEM Sydney are that of a double elimination with the first round being a best of one. So this game will be a best of one, meaning each team will ban 3 maps and the final map will be the deciding map. Glave of Astralis will want to carefully ban against NRG but I don't think he fears them on any map. The map will likely be Inferno or Mirage, as these two maps are the best for both teams.

Final Thoughts:

When looking a the context of online vs LAN, we find that teams who play better on LAN are the more respected teams, it's wear it counts more, it's wear majors are played and titles are won. NRG might have some nerves coming into their first international LAN and the 28 hour plane ride doesn't help either. Astralis have had experience on LAN and has felt the pressure of a Major crowd and has gone as for as winning a major. Medium bet on Astralis to win this best of one.