DreamHack Bucharest preview (2/2)

Here's the second part of our DreamHack Bucharest preview, which will focus entirely on the playoffs for the $15,000 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament.

Due to the odd scheduling of the tournament, which sees everything but the grand final get played out in just one day, it would be impossible to post a separate preview when groups are over.

As a result, we've decided to write the preview for the eight teams that are favored to make it out of their groups, and then speculate on what might happen in their potential matchups.

DreamHack returns to Bucharest this weekend 

You can find the first part of this preview, which naturally focused on the group stages, by clicking here. We've also already posted our viewer's guide so you know when each match will take place.

Needless to say this writeup is entirely subjective and it's possible some of the teams here won't even make the playoffs, but we have to work around the scheduling of the event.

The favorites

NiP (f0rest, Fifflaren, friberg, GeT_RiGhT, Xizt)

No matter how you look at it, NiP are the heavy favorites to win this tournament and it would be a surprise if the Swedes led by Richard "Xizt" Landström wouldn't be standing on the highest podium come Sunday afternoon. Although NiP were looking shaky even as recently as the ESEA Invite Season 14 Global Finals, they've really picked up their level of play since then and look to be in really good shape going into DreamHack Bucharest.

Christopher "GeT_RiGhT" Alesund is, at this point, without any doubt the world's best CS:GO player. We've seen his longtime partner in crime Patrik "f0rest" Lindberg become slightly more inconsistent recently, likely at least partly because he's not exactly being challenged to elevate his level of play, but Alesund's performances have never wavered, and the recent battle with VeryGames truly showed what kind of a monster he is when NiP needs it, similarly to the Virtus.pro comeback at SLTV StarSeries VI finals in July.

NiP are the only team who likely simply do not care what bracket draw they will get in the playoffs. Every other team hopes they won't share the side of a bracket with the world's best, for a reason, so whoever stands in NiP's way will likely be annihilated en route to another championship for Emil "HeatoN" Christensen's troops, who will then extend their domination in CS:GO to a full calendar year, from DreamHack Valencia to Bucharest.

Prediction: 1st

f0rest plays a key part in NiP's success as usual 

VeryGames (Ex6TenZ, NBK, ScreaM, shox, SmithZz)

Although many people disagreed with the move to remove Kenny "kennyS" Schrub, it'd be really hard to argue against bringing in Richard "shox" Papillon to replace him with after seeing what the Frenchmen have been able to accomplish since making the switch in May. Not only is Papillon one of the world's most skilled players individually, but his addition is also clearly working out for VeryGames on other levels beyond individual skill.

I never put too much weight on their RaidCall EMS One Summer 2013 Finals win because they never had to face their kryptonite there thanks to Virtus.pro's efforts, but winning a map online this week might have been just what the doctor ordered for Kèvin "Ex6TenZ" Droolans' team. Obviously they still went on to lose the series, in a typical VeryGames-NiP fashion at that, but getting the first map win is still a big merit after losing who knows how many maps in a row over the course of the past year.

VeryGames are extremely skilled individually thanks to Adil "ScreaM" Benrlitom, Papillon and Nathan "NBK" Schmitt, who can all take over a game at any point and win a map for their team if they get going. And that is exactly what they will need to come out on top in Bucharest. I think Astana could potentially cause trouble for VG, but I'd still put my money on the Frenchies, who are, and have proven to be for a year now, the world's second best CS:GO team.

Prediction: 2nd

ScreaM showed terrific form in FACEIT Cup's NiP loss 

Astana Dragons (AdreN, ANGE1, Dosia, Edward, markeloff)

Astana Dragons' results have been fairly inconsistent overall, which is understandable as they're still a young team that was thrown into the deep end of the pool by instantly participating in all of these online leagues, tournaments and qualifiers that have been taking place over the last month or so. What they do have going for themselves though, is three of the world's most skilled players, a great in-game leader who knows how to beat NiP, and lots of motivation.

I'm very much against flying to Romania three days early to film a TV spot before the team's first event, as not only could they have used the extra practice time at home, but it could also cost them a spot at RC EMS One Fall Finals. I think missing the last days of practice was a big blow for Astana, so their performance will probably come down to individual skill even more so than it was originally going to be. With that being said, it's hard to see them not place in the final four.

I'd take Kirill "ANGE1" Karasiow's team over everyone but VeryGames or NiP in a head-to-head match, and I'd assume they feel exactly the same. I don't see them getting to the final without beating one of those teams, and although they have the best chances of anyone to take one of the two giants down, I'd still have to give the more prepared teams an edge over Yegor "markeloff" Markelov and company; just don't rule them out.

Prediction: 3-4th

First true test for Dosia & co lies ahead 

Cph Wolves (device, dupreeh, Friis, socN, Xyp9x)

Before the news about Copenhagen Wolves' in-game leader Henrik "FeTiSh" Christensen having to miss DreamHack Bucharest, I was going to give them the upper hand versus everyone but NiP and VeryGames, and even go as far as to say they could easily be the surprise of this tournament, especially if Andreas "Xyp9x" Højsleth can play like he did earlier in the year when representing the Black and Orange.

The Danes are one of the more strategically sound teams in CS:GO and likely can't match the pure firepower of NiP, VeryGames or Astana Dragons consistently, so losing a player would be bad enough, but losing an in-game leader is potentially devastating for Michael "Friis" Jørgensen & co. On the up side, Højsleth cited the lack of experience as one of their weaknesses as their team is still fairly young, so getting rid of some of the pressure could also help them out a little bit.

Realistically I think the core of the team is probably strong enough to take out everyone but the three teams listed above them, but if they can't function well without Christensen's leadership the event could get ugly quick. If the Danes can't best n!faculty in the groups they might face one of the giants in the quarter-finals and be sent packing early. However, if they survive the Swedes, expect them to cruise to a very quiet 3-4th place finish.

Prediction: 3-4th

Cph Wolves could be in trouble unless socN shows Mad Catz Birmingham form 

The challengers

fnatic (Devilwalk, flusha, jw, MODDII, schneider)

fnatic are an intriguing team in the sense that we've all seen what the Epsilon nucleus can do if they're all playing with confidence and hitting their shots, but their level of play simply has never returned to where it was on those three glorious June days. I've commented on fnatic's leadership before and I do think it continues to be a massive problem that needs to be resolved. Patrik "cArn" Sättermon being on-site might help the team a little bit, but even he can't affect the in-game calls.

Jesper "jw" Wecksell is obviously the key member for his team, as we've all seen his AWP wreak havoc in the past, and he's definitely the one player on this current fnatic roster whom you hope is having a great day when you watch them play. That being said, they haven't come close to beating NiP, and that will put them in the tough spot of advancing to the playoffs as the second seed in group A, a recipe for a somewhat disappointing 5-8th place finish.

If we see Robin "flusha" Rönnquist make some better-than-average calls in Bucharest and both Wecksell and Andreas "MODDII" Fridh playing to their potential with Andreas "schneider" Lindberg chipping in as he usually does, fnatic can be very dangerous. The problem is they often make sub-par calls in big games, and it's hard for three players to peak at the same time. The bootcamp definitely helped fnatic, but I'm not sure if that is enough for a top four finish. Maybe versus Cph Wolves or one of the teams below, but I just don't see it versus the three favorites.

Prediction: 5-8th

flusha's leadership will play a huge part in fnatic's tourney run 

n!faculty (karrigan, pronax, pyth, rdl, Spitfire)

n!faculty are the team I have the hardest time putting my finger on out of all the DreamHack Bucharest participants. They don't have any of the world's absolutely best players, although Jacob "pyth" Mourujärvi has shown potential to be included in that conversation in the future, and it seems their team lives and dies with the calls of in-game leader Markus "pronax" Wallsten and how well his soldiers execute them. Normally that's not a bad recipe, but in today's CS:GO competition it's tough.

Not only did the Swedes recently make a roster change that saw one of their longest standing members depart the team and Finn "karrigan" Andersen, who is slightly more skilled but also comes with some language issues, join the team, but they're also going against very individually skilled teams. At DreamHack Summer Wallsten's team caught NiP at their weakest points individually, but now that Landström seems to be reinvigorated in that department I don't think they have what it takes to upset the giants.

Same goes for VeryGames and Astana, both of whom possess either better or similar level of teamwork, strategies and leadership, and a significantly larger amount of pure individual skill, which has proven to be the recipe for success in today's CS:GO. Unless a big upset helps Alexander "rdl" Redl and company with the bracket draw, don't expect them to make the podium.

Prediction: 5-8th

karrigan's experience should help n!faculty out versus the FeTiSh-less Cph Wolves 

Lemondogs (cype, Delpan, pita, twist, xelos)

Lemondogs are like a miniature n!faculty in terms of their team's identity. They have one clear fan-favorite type star player in Marcus "Delpan" Larsson, but they lack elsewhere more than what Larsson brings in the AWPing department. Since DreamHack Winter last year the Swedes have gone through countless roster changes, achieved fairly average tourney placings and simply not turned many heads after such a promising start.

They are the only team out of these eight squads whom I could realistically see not even make it through to the playoffs if Refuse shows up in good shape, and I also can't really see them beating anyone here for a spot in the final four. Their results online have been very inconsistent, ranging from draws versus VeryGames to blowout losses to Finnish 4w. I don't see it in terms of a top four finish, but realistically Lemondogs should be okay with a 5-8th.

Prediction: 5-8th

Delpan's Lemondogs rely on his AWP being in shape

Na`Vi (ceh9, kibaken, seized, starix, Zeus)

Natus Vincere are in a tough spot because their countrymen Astana Dragons have looked much stronger versus other teams, and didn't struggle too much in winning the first of likely many head-to-head battles online. With a second place in group D, it's hard to see Na`Vi being able to top any of the group winners in the quarter-finals in their current form.

VeryGames and NiP are clearly off limits in my opinion, so the case for Danilo "Zeus" Teslenko & co is hoping they face the winner of group B in the quarter-finals and then ride the momentum to one of the bigger upsets and Cinderella stories in CS:GO history. I don't see it happening, but at least it's laid out now. A 5-8th finish is acceptable for the new roster, and they will be able to build on it in the future.

Prediction: 5-8th

Can Zeus, starix and ceh9 continue Na`Vi's winning ways with seized and kibaken? 

How do you think the top three will shape up looking like? Will anyone not on this list sneak up on the podium? Can NiP win this weekend after falling short at RC EMS One Summer Finals? Leave a comment below.