VCT EMEA Stage 2 Challengers: Week 4 Predictions

Week four of the VCT EMEA Stage 2 Challengers is upon us and we have some very important games.
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Some teams' playoff hopes depend on a win this week, while others can confirm the first place of their group.Â
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Without further ado, let's get right into the predictions.Â
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Acend vs G2 EsportsÂ
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The game with the highest stakes of this week. With a win, Acend looks in playoffs while G2 Esports are forced to win this game since only a win will maintain them in the race for playoffs.Â
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G2 Esports come from a disappointing performance versus OG LDN UTD, while Acend comes from a hard loss versus Fnatic, who dominated the reigning world champions to win the series 2-0.Â
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The role swapping by G2 Esports didn't work at all against OG LDN UTD, and they looked a little bit lost.Â
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Acend also didn't look good versus Fnatic, but you can argue that Fantic is probably the best team in EMEA right now.Â
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I will go with Acend as my pick for this match. It's a very 50-50 match but I give Acend the slight edge since their heavy loss came against Fnatic, and they have shown me more so far in this Stage 2.
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One thing is certain, this match will dictate the future of group B and is going to be a very close one.Â
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Pick: Acend
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NAVI vs Team Liquid
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Team Liquid hasn't looked great but they have managed to defeat, on paper, weaker teams.
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Individually Team Liquid is really good, and they rely a lot on their individuals to get them out of hard situations or win rounds they shouldn't. Â
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While they did lose against Guild Esports 2-1, with all the three maps being very one-sided for the winners, they proved they can take a map out of a top-three team in the region currently.Â
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NAVI hasn't shown me that much in this Stage 2, apart from taking a map from M3 Champions, and defeating BIG which is probably the weakest team in the tournament so far, when NAVI lose a map they get absolutely steamrolled.Â
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Therefore I will pick Team Liquid. By no means have they been playing to perfection but I feel they are better individually and that will make the difference here.Â
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Pick: Team Liquid
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BIG vs M3 Champions
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M3 Champions have looked better and better with the passing of the tournament, and against BIG I expect a very good and dominant performance by them.Â
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BIG has also been improving but it's still not enough to defeat a team with the individual players and strategic brilliance of M3 Champions.Â
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It would be quite an upset if BIG managed to win this series, but I can see them maybe taking a map.
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Pick: M3 Champions
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OG LDN UTD vs FunPlus PhoenixÂ
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OG LDN UTD comes from a big upset win versus G2 Esports, so we shouldnt underestimate this team.Â
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However, I still think FPX is the favorite heading into this one.Â
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The reigning EMEA champions are a very deep team when it comes to team compositions, strategies, setups, and executes, and are always showing something new.Â
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So far they have only lost to Fnatic and is«n a very close series.Â
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It's safe to say FPX is a title contender and will be looking to win this game in order to confirm their playoff spot.Â
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But it will be interesting to see if OG LDN UNT can carry on the momentum from their win versus G2 Esports and maybe shock the world once again.Â
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Pick: FPX
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BBL Esports vs Guild Esports
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Guild Esports has been in an impressive form recently. They are still undefeated, and they have already played the two best teams in their group.Â
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They defeated Team Liquid 2-1 last week, and despite drooping one map they dominated in the other two maps.Â
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M3 Champions have also been defeated by the United Kingdom organization, in a 2-0 with both maps being one-sided wins by Guild Esports.Â
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BBL Esports have looked much better than on Stage 1, and I think they can make this series competitive.Â
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But I still think Guild Esports is the better team currently and should have many difficulties in winning this series, even if it goes to a third map.Â
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Pick: Guild Esports
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FOKUS vs Fnatic
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There is not much to be said about this match. Fnatic has looked amazing so far, with Derke and Alfajer playing like superstar players so far.Â
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While FOKUS, despite making some maps very close, they have yet to win a series and have only one map of six possible.Â
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Fnatic also confirms the first spot in group A with a win here, so I expected them to bring their a game as they have done since the tournament started.Â
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Pick: Fnatic
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All the image rights belong to, Acend, Fnatic, Guild Esports, Riot Games Valorant, FPX, and Team Liquid.Â