Splyce vs Gambit Esports

ROG MASTERS 2017 Grand Finals (Group Stage),

Today, we have a very interesting game on our hands. As it is not a usual Best of One or Best of Three. But we have a Best of Two, which means that we have tying as an option. Which basically means that we have a 2/3 chance of being wrong today, but with these two teams I

would say we're going to be safe today. The two teams at hand are Gambit Esports; the current Major Champions versus North America's Splyce.

Gambit eSports:

Gambit have been on and off ever since the departure of their in game leader Danylo "Zeus" Teslenko. His departure to Navi has made both teams as a whole less solidified in their rosters. Gambit I would say is the better of the CIS squads having huge upset potential and both rising stars. Abay "HObbit" Khasenov, is the player to watch this map, as he has been on a complete tear in recent form and I hope he continues to show promise in the future.

Map choices for Gambit are very selective. "Train" is their most played map with a record of 9-9. "Mirage" follows up with a record of 11-4, "Cache" sits 5-4, "Inferno" is 5-3, "Nuke" is 5-2, "Cobblestone is 2-3, and finally "Overpass" is 1-4. "Mirage and "Train" are the clear favorites with each progressing map dwindling down in win rate, as they aren't afraid to play any of the seven maps, they are however much better in their top 3-4 maps.

Splyce:

Splyce is a team I have seen on and off these past few months, making somewhat of a name for themselves after picking up Mitch 'm1tch' Semago from the team "Ownage". After solidifying their roster, Splyce has had several good runs in recent events. Placing 1st at the ROG MASTERS 2017 Regional Finals for North America. I hope Splyce continues to grow into one of the better North American teams soon.

Maps are very similar to Gambit, playing 2-3 maps as many times as possible and not even bothering with the remaining 4. "Train" comes in at number one with a record of 8-8. "Inferno" sits second at 5-8, "Nuke" at 5-2, "Cache" at 2-3, "Cobblestone" at 1-3, "Overpass" at 0-3, and finally "Mirage" at 1-0.

Map Pick/Ban:

Both teams have played all seven maps in recent times and neither team looks to have a perma ban map choice. This being said, a likely ban phase will to be to ban out each teams best map, followed by whichever map the teams then do not want to play. "Inferno" and "Mirage" are going to be the likely first bans. I don't expect either team to want to play "Overpass" or "Cobblestone". "Train will more than likely be picked as both teams play it regularly. As for the last map it is between "Cache" and "Nuke". "Nuke is equal in record for both teams and "Cache" is won and played more by Gambit, if the choice is Gambit's it'll be "Cache" if it's Splyce's, it'll be "Nuke".

Final Thoughts:

The maps played today are commonly played by both teams, so as of right now their is no map advantage. But with the skill level of both teams and the teams that each squad has faced in recent times. I feel Gambit have an edge in this matchup and i expect them to take both maps for a clean 2-0. Good Luck everyone!