Match Prediction: Apeks - Team Space | CS2 (CS:GO)
ESL Challenger League Season 46: EuropeWelcome to EGamersWorld.
While most of the European disciplines are in a lull, Counter-Strike 2 is not going to stop. ESL Challenger League Season 46 is taking place on the professional scene.
ESL Challenger League Season 46 is a promotional league with very tempting prizes. The top two teams at the end of a long season will get a slot in ESL Pro League Season 19.
Among the contenders for a place in EPL S19 are Apeks and Team Space. The teams will play each other in the match of the top net play-offs.
Let's try to figure out who of the pair Apeks - Team Space will be stronger, and who will fall to the lower grid play-offs.
Let's go.
Apeks uniforms
Commencing our exploration of the match, let's kick things off by analyzing Apeks' current form. In this particular matchup, they enter the arena as favorites against the top-ranked opponent. The odds for the Macedonian club stand at approximately 1.35. This dynamic adds an element of excitement for those considering a CSGO gamble, as they weigh the possibilities in this clash of titans.
The 2023 season has been very productive for Apeks, but the team's performance remains questionable. Over a dozen tournaments have been played, but the high-profile results can be listed on the fingers of one hand.
They started the season with a top-16 finish at CCT South Europe Season 2. Next was the nightmarish Elisa Invitational Winter 2023 with a top-20 and then a top-4 CCT West Euroe Series #1.
In the middle of the year, Apeks took Top 2 at CCT West Europe Series #2 and Top 8 at BB Playlist. Urbanistic and Brazy Party. However, it was much more important to make it to the TOP-6 at European RMR A and to get to BLAST.tv Paris Major.
Paris Major itself became Apeks' moment of glory. Being a clear Underpassdog, Apeks managed to surprise the audience and make it to the top 4, where they were defeated by the future champions from Vitality.
Before the Long Convergence Gamers8, the team took part in IEM Cologne 2023, where they finished in the Top 20, CCT Online Finals #2, with Top 12 and Top 16 at ThunderPick World Championship 2023: European Series #1. The results are frankly so-so, but it doesn't get much better than that in the rivalry.
- Gamers8 lineup: nawwk, jkaem, kyxsan, sense, CacaNito.
After the extremely successful BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 Apeks changed their line-up. The 13th team of the world was completed by Macedonian CacaNito, who replaced in the roster headliner jL, who moved to NaVi.
After the roster shake-up, Apeks continued to perform at all sorts of tournaments. Their portfolio includes appearances at Gamers8 (TOP-16), CCT North Europe Series #7 (TOP-16), absolutely failed EPL Season 18 (TOP-28), CCT East Europe Series #2 (TOP-4).
Just before Roobet Cup 2023 Apeks took part in ESL Challenger At DreamHack Winter 2023: Europe Qualifier and IEM Sydney 2023. At the qualifier event they took TOP-6, but in Sydney they reached TOP-12.
At the Roobet Cup 2023 Apeks got into Group C, where they were opposed by BIG, 9INE and Astralis. The quartet, to put it bluntly, was not the easiest, nevertheless Apeks managed to reach the play-offs from the second place, losing only to BIG at the beginning of the group stage. However, having started well, they finished so badly: the final place - TOP-8, which is not bad in principle, but obviously could be better.
Apeks map pool
Apeks has an extensive map pool. The most frequent map is Inferno (12 maps, 83% wins).
Mirage (63% wins in 11 matches), Anubis (62% wins, 8 matches), Ancient (46% wins, 13 matches).
Among the worst are Overpass and Vertigo. They have 37% winrate with 13 cards each.
Nuke is not played.
Shape Space
We continue the match analysis with the analysis of Team Space's form. In this match they are playing as number two, and the odds for their success are around 3.
You shouldn't be surprised by Space's position. They are a classic example of a mix created on a whim. That is, they have very few events in their portfolio, and as a consequence, they are not very effective.
Over the year, Space played mostly at local tournaments. That is, among the significant events, it is the biggest one, because there are 2 tickets to the ESL Pro League and it is worth a lot.
- Team Space roster: enzero, Vert, ler511, fozil, TruNiQ .
Before ESL Challenger League Season 46 Team Space visited several small tournaments. First it was Winline Insight Season 4, where Space made it to the top 3, winning 1 match in the play-offs.
They also tried to make it to ESL Challenger Atlanta 2023, where they won in the first round, but later ran into more experienced forze. The result was a 0-2 loss to forze and a knockout at the top-8 stage.
There was also a second attempt to make it to ESL Challenger Atlanta 2023, already through the second qualification. Then Space played against Movistar Riders and again against Forze. Two 0-2s and a top-8 finish.
Before the Long Island play-offs of ESL Challenger League Season 46 Space visited CCT East Europe Series 4, where they won 3 games in 6 matches. They outplayed Sampi, The Witchers and Guild Eagles. However, it was only enough for the top 8 and not more.
In the course of ESL Challenger League Season 46 Space played unexpectedly well. Although Long Space played poorly in the first group, the 3-2 score was enough to advance to the High Group.
Already in the High Group Space met Team Spirit, where they lost in a very tense Bo3 with the score 1-2. Once in the lower grid, they earned a technical win over 1WIN, which allowed them to advance to the upper grid play-offs.
Mapple Space
Some of Space's best maps include Anubis and Overpass. The former has 6 maps and 100% wins, while the latter has 5 maps and 100% wins.
Next is Inferno with 13 matches and 10 wins. Nuke (7-4) and Ancient (3-3) are playing.
Worst of all is Vertigo. There are 2 defeats there.
History of head-to-head meetings Space - Apeks
Previously, the teams have not played each other in head-to-head matches. This match will be their debut.
Predicted result of the match Space - Apeks at ESL Challenger Season 46
I don't expect much from this match. The level of the teams is significantly different and it is evident from the results at the same ESL Challenger League Season 46. Space had a very difficult time getting into the play-offs, and managed to get into the top set by the will of fate. Apeks should close the series, and do it confidently, with the score 2-0.
Bottom line: Apeks win.