The second day of Stage 2 action at the StarLadder Budapest Major is set to begin shortly, with big qualification games ahead.
Three out of the four teams present in today’s 2-0 games are teams that have already played in Stage 1. Being used to the playing environment seems to have given them an edge over the nominal Stage 2 squads.
Let’s see if that’s still the case on Day 2. Here’s the preview of today’s most important matches.
Can NIP do the double over FaZe? Credit: © StarLadder
FaZe Clan and NIP meeting again is not a surprise in itself, but the circumstances surrounding their clash are unforeseen. Both squads were flawless on the first day of Stage 2 and will be battling each other for a spot in the top 16 of the StarLadder Budapest Major.
FaZe continue to look shaky, but they somehow manage to grind out victories. Their two wins came against Passion UA and Aurora, with both games taking place on Dust II and finishing 13:10 in favor of FaZe.
NIP’s performances have been much more convincing and stable. The players who impressed in Stage 1 continued to deliver in solid victories against Astralis and TYLOO.
Based on the eye test and previous results, NIP should have this game in the bag. Although they are playing FaZe after all, so it’s bound to be a hard-fought affair.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of Stake. Odds are subject to change.
B8 could secure their best Major placement today. Credit: © StarLadder
The two Ukrainian organizations will face off in the second 2-0 matchup, as Natus Vincere takes on B8. NAVI came out hot out of the blocks in their maiden Major game, demolishing FlyQuest 13:2, before securing a labored victory over Imperial.
One easy victory and one tough challenge were the path of the course for B8 as well. The youngest team in the competition took care of a cold Team Liquid in the opener and then narrowly came out on top in a bout against fnatic.
B8 have a good shot at upsetting their opponents, but NAVI’s firepower might prove too much to handle, especially if Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov and Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy continue to run wild as they did on Day 1.
Score prediction:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of Stake. CS2 odds are subject to change.
Liquid could go 0:3 in two consecutive Majors. Credit: © Team Liquid
We can’t forget about the elimination games, especially since they feature such high-profile names like Astralis and Liquid, who had dire starts to their respective Major campaigns.
FlyQuest being present in the elimination games is also a surprise, after their stellar 3-0 run in the first stage. They mustered only nine rounds over their two BO1s in Stage 2.
Perhaps the only reasonable 0-2 team in this lineup is MIBR, who lost to two relatively weak teams in Imperial and Passion UA. They are surely a lock for the 0-3 exit.
Despite their struggles during the first day of play, Astralis and Liquid should have what it takes to bounce back and extend their stay at the Major at least one more day.
Score predictions:
Odds:
Odds courtesy of Stake. Odds are subject to change.
Feature image credit: © StarLadder
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