KRÜ Esports and 100 Thieves will meet on the big stage during the VCT Americas group stage. With both teams being equally favored to win, who potentially has the advantage in the upcoming match?
With the VCT: Americas group stage just about wrapping up, it’s clear which teams from Group Omega will make it to the playoffs. However, the same can’t be said for Group Alpha. Teams like Evil Geniuses and Sentinels have been duking it out for a chance to start the playoffs in the upper bracket. While the top four teams are easy to guess, the coveted first-place position is still up for grabs.
100 Thieves has nabbed the top spot thus far and will go up against a KRÜ Esports side that is hot on its tail. The winner may determine which team will go through with a bye into the upper bracket semifinals. With the same number of games won and lost for both teams, the winner here may seem like a coin toss.
100 Thieves is considered one of the strongest American Valorant teams, and much of that is thanks to Cryocells. Not only is he one of the most consistent players in the current group stage, he is also tied with another player for having the most MVP awards in the tournament. That isn’t to say 100 Thieves doesn’t have other good players, as Asuna, zander, and eeiu have all carried their weight to push 100 Thieves to the top of Group Alpha.
The biggest anomaly in 100T is Boostio. Although the player does have some excellent support utility usage, his fragging power leaves a lot to be desired. He consistently finds himself giving under pressure and dying in most rounds. Having a player like Boostio who doesn’t have as much clutch or trading potential as his teammates could hurt 100 Thieves’ chances of winning the upcoming match, especially considering KRÜ’s habit of making unexpectedly aggressive comebacks.
Speaking of KRÜ, the team has had a rollercoaster of an event. Despite only losing one match against Evil Geniuses, the team’s performance has been all over the place. Arguably, the most inconsistent player has been keznitdeuS. While he’s performing subpar in some games, he’s dropping impressive scores in others, landing him the same number of MVPs in this tournament as Cryocells. Much of the upcoming match may be decided by which of the two star players shows up in better form and gets the support they need from their teammates.
Below are the rosters of both teams:
KRÜ Esports:
100 Thieves:
Yoru, Tejo, and Breach are among KRÜ Esports’ most-picked champions. The other picks look to be up for grabs. Agents like Vyse, Omen, Astra, and Sova have seen picks in the ongoing series, but they’re usually picked depending on the opposition and situation.
On the other hand, Neon is easily the agent fans are most likely to see from 100 Thieves, while every other pick is up in the air. 100 Thieves likes to switch things around, whether by playing a second duelist like Iso to run the double-duelist strategy, or taking someone like Sage and Tejo to play more around utilities.
100 Thieves and KRÜ Esports have faced off against each other just three times in the past. Out of those three matches, 100 Thieves has won only once while KRÜ Esports won twice, giving it a slight edge in the brief series history.
The match between KRÜ Esports and 100 Thieves is fairly equal, with both teams having the exact same betting line of 1.85. With odds this tight, this VCT match is a tough pick for bettors.
KRÜ Esports has a habit of throwing the first game, such as what happened versus LOUD before the team made a strong comeback. It isn’t far-fetched to assume the same may happen against 100 Thieves. However, KRÜ has showcased excellent skill even with its occasional blips in performance, and between keznitdeuS’ fragging and Melser and Mazino’s support, the team will likely give 100 Thieves a run for its money.
Ultimately, 100 Thieves is just the more consistent squad. Although the team lost against Sentinels, it did so with a score of 1-2 compared to KRÜ’s 0-2 loss to Evil Geniuses. Cryocells, Asuna, and eeiu are definite stand-outs for 100T, and while Boostio lacks the potential to top the scoreboard in frags, his supporting utility may be enough to tilt the odds in 100T’s favor.
Do you think you know which team will come out on top? Then place your bet now!
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