Although Pantamera is a one day event with a rather small list of participants, it will be an ideal indicator of who really is the favorite going into the first major of the year, ESL One Katowice. The 'home team' for Pantamera is undoubtedly Sweden's own Ninjas in Pyjamas. F0rest and company are joined by fellow countrymen Fnatic, along with Virtus.Pro, Titan, EnVyUs (ex-LDLC), and the winner of the 128-team online qualifier, LGB eSports. The event features a round-robin best-of-one format, in which the top three teams move on to the playoff bracket. While the top team advances straight to the grand final, the second and third place finishers will square off in a consolidation match for the other grand final berth. Read on for an analysis of each squad's recent performance and their chances at adding more hardware to their trophy case.
Ninjas in Pyjamas (GosuGamers World Ranking #3)
Fresh off of a tournament win this past weekend at ASUS ROG Winter in Finland, NiP is hungry to continue their momentum and resurgence since the addition of Mikail "Maikelele" Bill in early November. After an incredible stretch of dominance for the first year of CS:GO, the Swedes fell off in mid-2014, even failing to move past the group stage at ESWC 2014. Eventually, former team captain and AWPer Robin "fifflaren" Johansson decided it was time to hang up his mouse, leaving NiP one man down weeks before Dreamhack Winter 2014. In turn, the team acquired the talents of Maikelele, as Richard "Xizt" Landström became NiP's sole strategist. This was all met with a healthy dose of skepticism by fans. However, Maikelele has proven that he can not only hang, but excel against the world's best players. Xizt has also demonstrated competence and maturity as in-game leader, putting up consistent fragging numbers in the process.
Nearly three months later, NiP has achieved a 2nd place at Dreamhack Winter, 2nd place at MLG X Games Aspen, and the aforementioned 1st place at ASUS ROG Winter. If there is any valid criticism to Maikelele's contributions, it is that he has been inconsistent at times. With that being said, when he is on his game he can go toe-to-toe with any AWPer in the world. This was on full display this past weekend when Maikelele topped the scoreboard in NiP's semi-final against HellRaisers, and was followed by another dominant performance against Titan in the final. Needless to say, the new version of NiP is scary when Maikelele is the one carrying the load.
Furthermore, the 'King of Banana', Adam "Friberg" Friberg, has been a model of consistency for his team, helping them become one of the premier teams on de_inferno. This is arguably the best supporting cast Patrik "f0rest" Lindberg and Christopher "GeT_RiGhT" Alesund have enjoyed since their days playing Counter-Strike 1.6 in Fnatic. The Ninjas are surely looking forward to another shot at EnVyUs, the team who has replaced them as frontrunners. If Maikelele can play as well as he is capable of, there is no reason to bet against NiP on their home turf.
Fnatic (GosuGamers World Ranking #2)
The other Swedish team in attendance comes home after participating in two tournaments in Colorado. Fnatic had their share of struggles in Aspen, falling to NiP 2-1 in the semi-final, before getting dispatched 2-0 by Dignitas (now Team SoloMid) in the bronze medal match. At Clutch Con in Denver, however, Fnatic obliterated the field (made up of mostly mid-tier American teams). Their disappointing finish off the podium at the MLG X Games has caused a bit of an overreaction from fans and critics, with many claiming they are in a slump. This is the same team that comfortably won the ESEA Season 17 LAN finals less than two months ago.
Fnatic got its first major victory in CS:GO way back at Dreamhack Winter 2013. Unjustly, it was not until the current lineup put together a string of tournament victories in the second half of 2014 that they truly stepped out of NiP's shadow. It is difficult to believe that such a talented roster of players would finish outside the top three at Pantamera. Nevertheless, if Fnatic hopes to take down the giants of NiP and EnVyUs, it will certainly need stronger performances out of veteran member Robin "flusha" Rönnquist.
While in-game leader Markus "pronax" Wallsten and Olof "olofmiester" Kajbjer have been steady contributors, AWPer Jesper "JW" Wecksell has been brilliant as always. Freddy "KRIMZ" Johansson has also been an absolute beast since joining Fnatic last summer, especially in recent months. Unfortunately, the one player who stood out most during their run of 1st place finishes has been quiet as of late. Flusha was the centre of controversy not too long ago, as a number of people in the community had their pitchforks out, accusing him of cheating and calling for a 'VACation'. Evidently, there has not been any solid proof suggesting cheats, so he remains unbanned. Flusha has struggled recently though, finishing well below the rest of his team in KDR at the X Games. His aim just has not been on par with the world's other top players in 2015. He will have to rediscover his 2014 form if Fnatic are to return to their former glory.
Virtus.Pro (GosuGamers World Ranking #5)
If there is one team at this event who really has been in a slump, it is Virtus.Pro. The Poles enter Pantamera in the aftermath of an unexpected early exit during the group stage of ASUS ROG Winter. The team was 5-5 in official matches throughout the month of January, dropping games to Penta and HellRaisers at the ASUS tournament. This is rather unexpected, considering how well they closed out the 2014 season. With a 3rd-4th place at Dreamhack Winter, 2nd place at ESEA Season 17 LAN finals, and an easy win at the ACER A-Split Invitational, things were looking bright. Alas, the state of Counter-Strike can change within the blink of an eye. Unlike Fnatic, Virtus.Pro's struggles cannot be explained by one player underperforming. Filip "Neo" Kubski and his teammates have just been unable to consistently come out on top in small scale exchanges.
It would be foolish for any team or its fan base to count out Virtus.Pro as a legitimate contender. There is a reason why Neo and Wiktor "TaZ" Wojtas were part of the most successful lineup in competitive Counter-Strike history. These two not only wield unbelievable skill, but they are as resilient as any professional gamer in the business. There is no doubt that their winning mentality has rubbed off on the rest of the team. Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski has developed a great understanding of the game and how to exploit his teammates' strengths. Rather than rely on Neo and TaZ to put up big numbers, Snax appeals to their wealth of experience, allowing them to support star players Pawe? "byali" Bieli?ski and Jaros?aw "pasha" Jarz?bkowski. This support opens up vital space for byali and pasha, which lets them produce two, three, and four kill rounds, seemingly at will.
Poland's finest need to reestablish their commanding presence on maps such as de_mirage and de_nuke. Then they can use that confidence as a springboard to get their game together on their weaker maps, namely de_dust2. The key to this could be Neo and TaZ, two legends who have been in this position before. Their positive reaction to adversity should push the rest of the team in the right direction. Once Virtus.Pro gets back their rhythm and start winning the exchanges, they will be a mountain of a challenge. The question is: will they figure it out in time for Pantamera? If pasha and his biceps have anything to say about it, Virtus.Pro will be the dark horse that rises to the occasion.
Titan (GosuGamers World Ranking #7)
When the French team Titan is mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is Kenny "kennyS" Schrub. The young phenom is regarded by many as the best AWPer in the game, and one of its most skilled players in general. Indeed, there are few professionals who can match the reflexes and uncanny accuracy put on display by kennyS time and time again. His godlike performance at ASUS ROG Winter propelled his team to the final, where they were unable to overcome NiP. Dan "apEX" Madesclaire also had a solid tournament, providing a steady stream of frags with his sound rifle work.
It appears as if the Titan organization has put the KQLY cheating incident and subsequent ban behind them. The squad is in top form lately, posting an 11-4 record against tough competition in January. After nearly two years in retirement, Cédric "RpK" Guipouy has returned to the scene and done an adequate job filling in as Titan's new fifth. In-game leader Kevin "Ex6TenZ" Droolans and support player Mathieu "Maniac" Quiquerez are not top fraggers, but their game knowledge and strategic positioning creates ample space for kennyS and apEX to do their jobs.
There is one glaring problem with this lineup that should be addressed. Its greatest strength is also its most significant weakness. That is, kennyS is far and away the most talented player on this team. Fans and commentators are aware of this, and so are opposing teams. As a result, Titan exhibits a certain level of predictability. Opponents are able to utilize strategies that involve isolating kennyS. On terrorist side, attacking bomb sites where he is absent. On counterterrorist side, attempting aggressive pop-flash plays where he is picking. Of course, such tactics are not always successful. Not surprisingly, Titan has shown a willingness to mix up their formations to throw a wrench into competitors' counterstrategies. In the end, however, Titan cannot be a one trick pony. KennyS's teammates will have to step up their game if Titan wants to be among the elite.
EnVyUs (GosuGamers World Ranking #1)
Formerly known as Team LDLC, EnVyUs is currently the undisputed #1 CS:GO team on the planet. With most members having played together at some point, this roster came together last September under the leadership of Vincent "Happy" Cervoni. What followed were many top 3 finishes, culminating in a Dreamhack Winter championship. The French dream team did not stop there, as they captured gold just a couple of weeks ago at the MLG X Games. Despite suffering losses to both Team SoloMid and NiP on their favorite map, de_inferno, Happy and his teammates look comfortable on any map in the cycle. They were particularly impressive against the latter on the seldom played de_cobblestone. Suffice to say, EnVyUs has looked unstoppable over the last few months.
Veteran player Edouard "SmithZz" Dubroudeaux has been a fixture at the top of the French scene since his days playing Counter-Strike: Source for the now defunct VeryGames. In EnVyUs he has mostly taken on AWP duties in more of a support role. Fortunately, his teammates are all capable of putting the team on their back at any given time. Whereas Richard "shox" Papillon has long been considered one of the game's very best all-around players, Nathan "NBK" Schmitt has been one of the most consistent riflers in the world. On top of that, Fabien "kioShiMa" Fiey has emerged as arguably the deadliest entry fragger in CS:GO. Even though Happy may not be the most methodical and vocal of strategists, his ability to play the lurker role is second to none. His performance at the MLG X Games was absolutely spectacular, specifically in the grand final. During so many rounds NiP had the man advantage, before Happy would turn the tide and pick up two or three key kills. He is by far the most potent fragger of any in-game leader today.
What separates EnVyUs from the rest of the pack is how balanced they are, both in terms of production and play style. All players on the team are contributors. The Frenchmen seem to know exactly when to ramp up the aggression and when to take a passive, lockdown approach. The confidence and unpredictability they exert is the trump card that has given them the edge against other world class teams in recent events. At this point, perhaps the only thing that can beat EnVyUs are themselves. They will be looking to continue their success at Pantamera by taking down the world's best teams once again.
LGB eSports (GosuGamers World Ranking #12)
Picture from RUBINO's facebook channel
Every tournament needs an underdog. Thankfully, the Norwegian LGB eSports happen to fulfill that role admirably. Although LGB is a far cry from the Norwegian Counter-Strike 1.6 teams of the distant past, they have earned their right to play against the best. Battling their way through a 128-team single elimination gauntlet, LGB secured their spot at Inferno Online by easily prevailing over German side Playing Ducks in the final, in quick 2-0 fashion. Nevertheless, Morten "zEVES" Vollan and company have a tall task ahead of them.
Despite a 2-1 series victory over the likes of HellRaisers just a few weeks ago, the fact of the matter is that LGB are a tier below Pantamera's five other participants. Thus, an upset win is surely possible, but it will require a superb effort. Map selection could be a huge determining factor in LGB's chances, as they seem to favor de_mirage and de_cache. Naturally, the margin for error is zero if LGB are to shock the world and win multiple matches this weekend. Ultimately, this event will be invaluable experience for the underdogs from Norway. Hopefully they can build confidence off of their time in Stockholm and make some noise at future competitions in 2015.
The Pick
Picture by VaKarM
When the cream of the crop is present at any given event, making a prediction is nothing more than an educated guess. The logical pick would be EnVyUs continuing their streak of dominance. Nevertheless, logic is often wrong in the case of competitive sports and esports. Therefore, Ninjas in Pyjamas will be crowned champions in their own backyard. Expect a resurgence from Fnatic's flusha and a masterful performance by GeT_RiGhT. NiP appears to have their swagger back, and the main catalyst for that has been Maikelele hitting peak form.
Regardless of what transpires in Stockholm, one thing is guaranteed. Pantamera will be chock-full of action-packed, high level Counter-Strike. Casted by Anders Blume and Auguste "Semmler" Massonnat, Counter-Strike fans will not want to miss it. With the world's best individual players and teams gathered in one place, Pantamera will definitely live up to the hype.
Headline image by VaKarM.
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