In this BO1 group stage match-up we see some of the finest talent NA has to offer compete against an absolutely dominant Brazilian roster. Its Cloud9 vs SK Gaming.
IEM Oakland 2017 – Oracle Arena, Oakland, California – 16th November – 18:00 CET
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Draw Best Odd of: – at gg.bet |
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SK Gaming
Cloud9Cloud9 Form
Within the NA region, Cloud9 are in competition to be the best team in the scene. Ranked 7th in the world, Cloud9 will be competing in this tournament with the relatively new additions of Tarik and Rush who look to be key components to the team’s revitalisation after a period of disappointing results. An important factor to this roster’s performance will be Tarik’s ability to adopt the role of IGL. While his tactical play can calls may be sound, analysts have doubts over whether he will be able to provide the mental support and motivation that this team will need in order to make a deep run in this tournament. This new roster seems to be vital to the team’s recent successes. Cloud9 have been able to claim Victory at DreamHack Open Denver as well as placing top 4 at the Eleague Premier and ESL One New York. As they are playing on home soil, Cloud9 will be looking to go far in this tournament in order to show their fans that they remain competitive.
SK Gaming Form
SK Gaming are the most dominant Brazilian team to ever play Counter Strike: Global Offensive. Currently ranked 2nd in the world Fallen and his crew look to replicate the massive levels of success that they have been used to getting in the past. With 4 players on this roster having 2 Major Championships under their belt, the wealth of experience and tactical nuance that SK have to offer is incredible. This makes them an incredibly formidable opponent. Recently SK took home 1st place at the EPICENTER tournament in St. Petersburg whilst playing with Boltz as a stand-in.
Outside of exiting in the group stages of the Eleague premier, SK have had a solid run of form recently. Finishing 3-4th at ESL one New York, winning ESL One Cologne and securing a victory at the ECS Season 3 LAN Finals. SK Gaming will be looking for nothing other than a victory at this tournament so that they can re-establish their reputation as the best team in the world.
Head to Head Record
SK and Cloud9 have only played 3 maps against each other on LAN after Cloud9 introduced their new roster. Unfortunately for NA fans, SK have won every single one of those maps. Their most recent match was at ESL One New York where SK beat Cloud9 16:5. This means that unless Cloud9 can implement some unorthodox strategies that catch SK completely off guard, then history is set to repeat itself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90GrRLkaatI
Betting odds
All betting odds for this match will be available at GG.bet Head over there to get great odds on this match and the rest of the matches in the tournament!
Top betting tip: SK vs Cloud9
Whilst it would be awesome if Cloud9 managed to pull of an incredible performance and completely outplay their Brazilian opponents. Due to SK’s sheer level of skill, it has to be said that SK Gaming will take home this match. Especially when you consider that outside of Inferno, Cloud9 and SK are strongest on the same maps. Ultimately, if SK play at their current skill level then they are set to purely out-play and out aim their American opponents then SK will be adding a win to their record.