Liquid – Virtus.pro

CS:GO - ESL Pro League Group D

Firstly, it's important to address the rumors regarding Yekindar potentially missing all or part of the EPL tournament, with the possibility of a coach or an emergency replacement stepping in, possibly Stewie2k, who retired from professional CS long ago. There are also rumors of visa issues that may affect Patsi's availability. Any such changes, especially when one or two key players are replaced, can have a significant impact on various aspects of the game, particularly team spirit and coordination. The team must urgently find a solution, as these changes can disrupt their plans and strategies. In summary, forced lineup replacements can be a critical and often decisive factor, especially when key players who are the backbone of the team are affected.

Now, let's analyze the lineups individually, starting with VP. Even if Liquid were at full strength, my bet would still be on the CIS team. Firstly, they are currently performing better. Over the past two months, they have won the CCT and reached the finals at the Dunav Party. While these may not be prestigious tournaments, they demonstrate the team's commitment to competing wherever possible. They gain valuable experience, build chemistry within the team, and boost morale by reaching consecutive finals. I see progress in the Bears' gameplay and their determination to win. I must also mention Mir, who has integrated well into the team after a long break. Although he may not be in his best form since Spirit, his performance and ability to keep up with the others speak volumes.

Regarding Liquid, the team is clearly not in top form. Leaving aside the potential replacements mentioned earlier, let's look at the individual players. Starting with Rainwaker, his transfer appears questionable, and he hasn't lived up to expectations since transitioning from tier2 to tier1. While consistently maintaining a KD of 1.2+ at the tier-2 level, his performance in Liquid has been lackluster. When assessing the team as a whole, Liquid's gameplay is currently in a poor state. They could benefit from practicing at the tier-2 level before facing tier-1 opponents. However, they seem to overestimate themselves and believe they are ready to compete with the world's strongest teams, which is not the case. Their losses against Ence, 9INE, and Astralis are disheartening for such a renowned organization.

In conclusion, considering the potential lineup changes and Liquid's overall performance struggles, VP appears to be the fresher and more promising team at the moment. Therefore, I choose VP to win this matchup.