With the Group Stage nearing its end we have calculated what teams will have to do in order to qualify for the playoffs.
The upcoming OGN APEX matches are going to be the most exhilarating yet, and that's saying something. In this advanced stage of the groups we know what teams will need to accomplish in their last game to ensure qualifying for the next phase. Some teams have better odds than others...
Group A
This group is already decided. EnVyUs and MetaAthena are making it out this group regardless of the score of their game scheduled for Friday. It will matter for seeding of the next phase however. EnVyUs has lost one more game, but this is barely a hint of their match's outcome.
Group B
Group B is where things get interesting.
Misfits and Lunatic Hai are going to play each other to decide who makes it out of that group. No one is guaranteed a spot out of the group yet, so LW Blue's faith is out of their own and in the hands of this match as well.
Looking at the points says that if Misfits wins a 3-way tie will be the result. The method that OGN has decided to use to resolve a tie breaker is to look at the win/loss ratio of the group standings.
The current win/loss ratio breaks down as follows
- Misfits
- 3-0
- 1-3
- Win/loss ratio of 4/3
- Lunatic Hai
- 3-0
- 3-1
- Win/Loss ratio of 6/1
- LW Blue
- 3-0
- 1-3
- 3-1
- Win/Loss ratio of 7/4
- Win/Loss ratio of 7/4
If Misfits wants to make it out of the group stages then they need to either 3-0 Lunatic Hai OR 3-1 them for another tie. If Misfits 3-0’s them then they make it out of the group with LW Blue and Lunatic Hai is out. If they 3-1 Lunatic Hai then there is a 3-1 tie that will need to be resolved in another way.
ANY result other than 3-0 or 3-1 for Misfits means Lunatic Hai and LW Blue both make it out of the group, leaving Misfits behind.
Either way, Afreeca Freecs Red doesn’t make it out of the group. That's the one certainty in this group.
Group C
Another interesting group, but less convoluted than Group B. Kongdoo Uncia is going to make it out of the group whether they beat Cloud9 or not. The score of the Cloud9 game and the Afreecs Blue game will determine who makes it out of that group.
The win loss ratio between the 2 breaks down like this
- Cloud9
- 3-1
- 1-3
- Win/Loss 4/4
- Afreecs Blue
- 3-1
- 1-3
- Win/Loss 4/4
- Win/Loss 4/4
Whoever wins their game by a larger margin makes it out of the group. A decidedly uphill battle for Cloud9 as they have to face the strongest team in their group, while AF Blue will face CONBOX Spirit, who have only won 1 game in the event so far.
Group D
Kongdoo Panthera is going to make it out of the group, but RunAway cannot relax yet. The game between Fnatic and RunAway, on the 28th of February, will decide who makes it out of their group.
The win/loss ratio breaks down as follows
While it may seem like RunAway has an advantage, they don’t. If Fnatic win the match then they advance BUT if RunAway win then they advance.
These last matches are going to be exciting affairs for fans of all teams and the under dogs will need to bring their best game if they want to prove that they deserve to make it out of the group stages.
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