The Group Stage reaches its second half, and we assess the penultimate group
The third group of ESL Professional League Season 17 is about to begin, and though this group appears to be comparatively simple by way of which groups may undergo, it’s nonetheless vital — or probably attention-grabbing — for anybody who loves the sport to understand how the groups stand. Furthermore, matches after the primary spherical will get more and more attention-grabbing, and CSGO is a notoriously unpredictable, momentum-based sport. In the event you’ve bought stakes concerned, it’s best to proceed studying and learn the way we predict every of those groups stand.
ESL Professional League Season 17 Group C Groups
- FaZe Clan
- Rooster
- paiN Gaming
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- OG
- 00 Nation
- Grayhound
- Group Vitality
FaZe Clan
- Håvard “rain” Nygaard
- Helvijs “broky” Saukants
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen
- Robin “ropz” Kool
Arguably one of the best group within the group and undoubtedly among the finest on the match, FaZe require no introduction to even probably the most occasional followers of the CSGO scene. Manned by an all-star squad, the group has been struggling to rediscover their early-2022 kind and full their Intel Grand Slam for fairly some time now, and with time working out, that is their greatest likelihood shortly to lock the prize and safe an additional $1,000,000. With what appears to be a comparatively simple path to the Playoffs for them a certainty, FaZe ought to make it there with ease.
Whereas karrigan is extra of a pacesetter than a fragger a la G2’s Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen, he actually packs a far better punch, and so long as he retains his toes on the bottom, his strats ought to safe a deep run for FaZe — if not silverware. Twistzz and ropz are the spine of the group, with one making vital match-winning performs and the opposite being a resolute, ice-cold warrior. Crucial side of FaZe’s sport would be the types of rain and broky, which might both make or break their match.
Rooster
- Tynan “TjP” Purtell
- Tyson “asap” Paterson
- Akram “ADK” Smida
- Corey “nettik” Browne
- Michael “chelleos” Hawkins
You could be forgiven if comparatively little about this group, as a result of frankly so can we. Fairly the pressure within the Oceania/Asia-Pacific area, Rooster has come a good distance since their formation in 2019. They’re a Tier-3 or so group with little or no expertise, with their best achievements to date taking place throughout CSGO’s Covid-stricken on-line period, and largest success since then being coming second in ESL ANZ Champs Season 15. With such little skilled expertise, Rooster are one among if not the most important underdog(s) on the match.
As for his or her gamers, the group has one of many youngest squads within the professional scene, with most of their gamers being both youngsters or of their early 20s. Rookie expertise asap’s return from Paradox Esports may have given them a little bit of a lift, whereas ADK is one other skilled Rooster hand who got here again to the scene when the group reformed final October after an extended hiatus. They’re additionally taking part in with stand-in TjP, which might’t probably make issues higher for them. Up towards FaZe within the first spherical, it’s secure to say that they don’t stand a lot of an opportunity.
paiN Gaming
- Gabriel “NEKIZ” Schenato
- Rodrigo “biguzera” Bittencourt
- Wesley “hardzao” Lopes
- Romeu “zevy” Rocco
- Felipe “skullz” Medeiros
The Brazilian facet has skilled loads of their namesake emotion in the previous couple of months, getting knocked out of the qualifiers for the Intel Excessive Masters Rio Main and displaying a pitiful efficiency in Katowice. That being stated, their efficiency is on the rise in the intervening time, with the Brazilians securing a spot within the North American Regional Main Rankings Qualifier and likewise taking the ESEA Money Cup: North America – Winter 2023 #3 after beating Evil Geniuses within the closing. Their first sport is versus NIP, and given the Swedes’ shaky kind, something’s attainable.
With their common IGL Vinícios “PKL” Coelho inactive since early February, paiN will probably be taking part in the match with a substitute. No matter this, their present squad is fairly stable, and if one of many larger groups isn’t cautious, they might very simply trigger an upset. hardzao has grown to be fairly a stable participant, whereas NEKIZ’s expertise will probably be invaluable for the group. In the meantime, biguzera is a group veteran and skullz has been doing the rounds on the Brazilian circuits for fairly some time regardless of their younger age.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Fredrik “REZ” Sterner
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen
- Kristian “k0nfig” Wienecke
- Danyyl “headtr1ck” Valitov
- Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin
The Swedes appear to have misplaced their glory days for good, with no spectacular ends in a really very long time. There’s loads of expertise on the lineup, nevertheless it simply doesn’t appear to click on at any level when it actually issues. With Danish rifler k0nfig on board, maybe they’ll muster the firepower wanted to make the massive leagues, however very similar to the remainder of NIP, k0nfig can be a participant who can fluctuate between wonderful and shockingly subpar. That being stated, paiN gaming shouldn’t be an issue for the Ninjas in the event that they play at even 80% of their greatest.
NIP’s greatest participant is difficult to pin down, with each Brollan and REZ being fairly constant for plenty of years now. Nevertheless, their new addition — former Natus Vincere academy participant headtr1ck — has taken over the limelight with some wonderful performances in latest occasions, and we are able to’t wait to see what he does subsequent. k0nfig, as now we have already acknowledged, is the wild card on this setup, and might be the deciding consider many matches both manner.
OG
- Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
- Nikolaj “niko” Kristensen
- Adam “NEOFRAG” Zouhar
- Maciej “F1KU” Miklas
- Abdulkhalik “degster” Gasanov
After one thing of a meteoric rise in each ranks and general efficiency in latest months, OG will probably be attending a match with out their talismanic chief Nemanja “nexa” Isaković after a very long time. The Serb has been one of many keys to OG’s success, and it’ll be attention-grabbing to see how they do with out his steerage. There’s little question that OG is excess of only one participant and his strats, nevertheless it’s nonetheless going to be a tricky match for the group following a tragic exit from Katowice on account of a medical challenge for one among their gamers.
OG’s most potent rifler is sort of actually flameZ, who was the participant that bought sick throughout the earlier occasion. F1KU and NEOFRAG are additionally wonderful on their good days, with each placing up stable numbers regularly. In the meantime, substitute niko was as soon as on OG, however is returning after an extended hiatus so it’s laborious to gauge his degree. Now let’s flip our consideration to OG’s star AWPer degster. The Russian is a improbable younger expertise who may simply turn into one of many all-time best snipers if given the suitable probabilities and coaching.
00 Nation
- Leonardo “n9xtz” Santos
- Marcelo “coldzera” David
- Bruno “latto” Rebelatto
- Eduardo “dumau” Wolkmer
- Lucas “nqz” Soares
One other Brazilian group that has underperformed regardless of having an honest lineup, 00 Nation is a group of kids led by two-time Main champion coldzera. Like paiN Gaming, they’ve been by way of many heartbreaks in the previous couple of months, dropping all their video games on the Rio Main and failing to qualify for both the Paris Main RMRs or the upcoming IEM Rio. Their first match will probably be towards OG, and barring a large upset, we don’t see them going previous the up-and-coming European powerhouse.
Regardless of coldzera clearly being the most important star on the group, others have gone properly previous him by way of significance to the group given his present kind. dumau and latto are important to the group’s success, and would be the gamers to be careful for at this occasion. That being stated, nqz has numerous hype surrounding him and so does n9xtz. Each are comparatively new recruits, and it stays to be seen whether or not they can carry out on the massive stage or not. The Brazilian facet is about to face off towards OG, and though they’re not the favorites, the brand new weapons may change that.
Grayhound Gaming
- Simon “Sico” Williams
- Joshua “INS” Potter
- Alistair “aliStair” Johnston
- Jay “Liazz” Tregillgas
- Declan “Vexite” Portelli
The Australian group’s greatest declare to fame remains to be their defeat of Cloud9 in a Better of 1 on the Rio Main. Since then they’ve continued to dominate their native groups, however carried out miserably at Katowice and are removed from being favorites to qualify from this group. Grayhound have a number of potential, however are nonetheless struggling, most probably on account of a scarcity of youthful vitality with Vexite being the one participant on the group aged beneath 24.
Age apart, aliStair and Liazz deliver some much-needed high tier expertise and talent to the group. INS and Sico are additionally potent, and shouldn’t be underestimated. This quartet has been taking part in collectively for a really very long time, however success has eluded them since their days on Renegades fairly some time in the past. Now, with the improbable Vexite in tow, they’ve their greatest shot at glory in a really very long time. That being stated, going up towards Vitality of their first match will most likely not assist their probabilities.
Group Vitality
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Audric “JACKZ” Jug
- Emil “Magisk” Reif
- Lotan “Spinx” Giladi
The French facet has had its moments, however the tried superteams underperformance is a stark reminder that throwing skilled stars collectively doesn’t all the time end in success. They’re nonetheless the reigning Professional League champs, so they’ll actually not go down with out a battle, nevertheless it’s been a really very long time since Vitality confirmed their full kind, and having to play with a substitute at this occasion most likely received’t do them any favors.
As has just about all the time been the case, apEX is a little bit of a hotheaded wildcard who, regardless of having some nice concepts, tends to get tilted fairly simply. Magisk and Spinx are each terrific particular person abilities, however their performances on Vitality could be described as checkered at greatest barring that one Professional League win. JACKZ is stepping right into a Tier 1 group after a really very long time, and everybody’s curious to see how he does. As for ZywOo, he’s the guts, soul, and hope of this group. If anybody’s going to assist Vitality retain their EPL title, it’s going to be this humble man.
Remember to try our different CSGO content material, together with sport guides and CSGO betting suggestions! And be prepared for day by day ESL Professional League recaps as soon as Group C matches are beneath manner.