Match Prediction: Team Liquid - NiP | Counter-Strike (CS2)
IEM Cologne 2021In parallel with the match between Gambit and mousesports, a fight between Liquid and NiP awaits us. And this match may be much more interesting than Gambit and mousesports.
In the first match of Group A between the aforementioned Gambit and mousesports, the difference in the level of the teams is too visible. Moreover, other factors, such as the schedule, play in favor of Gambit. But in a duel between NiP and Liquid, I would not be so categorical.
As for me, both teams are now showing very equal CS, although there is a bias towards NiP. We are trying to figure out how steep this bias is and what role it will play in the upcoming fight.
NiP shape
As in the case with mousesports, first let's take a look at the already “familiar” team. Such in the duel Liquid and NiP will be the second.
We have already discussed NiP outside IEM Cologne, reviewing their results before Cologne, and now we can afford to admire the latest data. Although there are not many of them, they are still talking about something, and they are talking about.
NiP Latest Results
- Defeat MIBR 2-1
- Lose to ENCE with a score of 1-2
- Defeat from mousesports with a score of 1-2
- Beat LDLC 16-6
- Victory over mousesports with a score of 2-0
The first 2 rounds of IEM Cologne 2021 for NiP turned out to be nothing more than a confident training before the start of real battles. Both LDLC and mouse failed to impose competition on NiP.
NiP cards
The best NiP card is Overpass. In 10 matches, NiP has a 70% win rate there.
The worst card is Nuke. For 7 games, 43% win rate.
NiP doesn't play Vertigo.
Liquid form
Now let's move on to the “new” team at IEM Cologne 2021. Team Liquid.
The situation with the pandemic crippled Liquid a little, as it closed it inside the American region. For the team and players of the Liquid level, this is a clear disadvantage. Fortunately, in 2021, everything is quietly returning home and we increasingly see FalleN and the company on the international stage.
It is true that Liquid does not show any special results there. Yes, they took TOP-4 at BLAST Premier: Global Final 2020, Intel Extreme Masters XV, DH Open March 2021. But there were ESL Pro League 13 with TOP 9-12 and BLAST Premier: Spring Showdown 2021, where Liquid finished at 9 -16th place.
Before the start of IEM Cologne, the Liquid got a moral boost by winning the North American RMR cs_summit 8. That was true a month ago.
Liquid Latest matches
- Lose from Extra Salt 1-2
- Defeat EXTREMUM 2-1
- Beat paiN 2-0
- Defeat FURIA 2-1
- Defeat FURIA 3-1
Again, we return to the issue of the region and so on. The only real competitor to Liquid in North America is FURIA, which the liquid ones deal with.
Liquid cards
The best map for Liquid is Mirage. 2 wins in 3 games.
The worst is Inferno. For 5 games, the win rate is 40%.
It is worth noting that Liquid have played very few matches over the past 3 months, and therefore the statistics of maps in the case of "liquid" ones is controversial.
Personal meeting history
NiP and Liquid have not met in official games lately.
Match outcome
The obvious outcome would be to pick NiP as the match winner, as the Europeans have much more practice in a strong region. But I still believe in the fight from FalleN's dad.
I believe that Liquid will take at least 1 card.
Result: handicap +1.5 on Liquid.
Wait! Finally, the most anticipated tournament starts, the first LAN after a long lull, albeit without spectators, but this is already something.
Teams are divided into 2 groups
Group A: Gambit, mousesports, NiP, Liquid, Vp, BiG, CoL, G2
Group B: Navi, Renegades, Vitality, Furia, Astralis, Faze, Heroic, Team Spirit
Each group will play its own mini-tournament for reaching the playoffs, a classic format for these tournaments.
The first match will be between Liquid-NiP, the two teams that are fighting for their tag, as the recent results leave much to be desired.
NiP
The Nips went through the Play-in stage, beating LDLC and Mousesports (2-0). Dev1ce misses LANs and gives his team extra confidence by taking a lot of clutches and closing rounds in solo. Nips is a fast-growing team that spent almost all the time together at the bootcamp, so this kind of environment is already familiar to them.
Liquid
We have not been able to watch this team on the pro stage for a long time and it is not known what form they are in now. After the arrival of Fallen, the team's game went up, but the personal skill of the legendary captain sometimes left much to be desired. The team has been and trained in Europe for a long time, so they definitely have something in stock, and it makes no sense to guess which mappool they prepared without additional information.
Outcome
There are two equal teams that have strong snipers who are ready to win a bunch of chances. There are great expectations from Liquid at this tournament, before the first matches I single out this team as a team that will go very far, but the matches will show. In this confrontation, I am completely on their side. NiP play well, but they don't have much experience playing in this roster against such teams.
Bookmakers & Statistics
All bookmakers have agreed that NiP is the favorite. This can be noticed because odds on them are 1.639. This number in the favor of Team Liquid amounts 2.705. Respectively, the last ones are the underdogs of the upcoming match.
If your opinion is similar to the one, which is provided by experts in bookmaker companies and you want to bet on NiP, the best odds on their victory can be found at — 1.8. If you think that Team Liquid are going to win, the best thing will be to bet at . This bookmaker provides the best odds on their victory in the sum of 6.5.