Brazil Group B, Playoff paths for each team

TLDR: FURIA, NIP NEEDS ONE WIN. INGAMING, VIVO KEYD DONT NEED HELP BUT NEED TO WIN OUT. SHARKS SUCK LMFAO

After three weeks of stiff competition, which leaves three of the six invited teams currently in the 4 elimination positions in the group stage, and both of last year’s Masters: Iceland teams winless. One of those Masters: Iceland teams is the only team that is guaranteed to not make it to the playoffs from the EMEA, NA, or Brazil group stages. Let's break down the path (almost) every team has to the playoffs.

Almost there:
These teams only need one win to qualify.

FURIA:
After a very strong 2021 season that led to a champions berth through the SA LCQ, FURIA looks to continue that success into the new year. While FURIA didn't make as many roster changes as other teams in the region, the one change they made has seemed to work in FURIA’s favor. FURIA picked up ableJ as their KAY-O/Sage player. This roster has looked extremely strong, picking up wins against newly formed Ninjas in Pyjamas and INGAMING. All FURIA needs to do to qualify for the playoffs is pick up a win against a sharks team that is a shell of its former self, or fellow champions team, Vivo Keyd.

Ninjas in Pyjamas:
Although NIP has been vastly overshadowed as a new brazilian team by LOUD, they still very much deserve praise for the early successes they've had. After never being able to find their footing in EMEA, NIP chose to drop their European roster and try it out in Brazil, and this move has definitely paid off. After a very competitive game that ended in a 1-2 loss vs FURIA, NIP has done what they needed to, beating Sharks 2-0 and upsetting former champions squad Vivo Keyd 2-1. It's clear that this new team has what it takes to make it to the playoffs, and all they need to qualify is a win in week 5 vs a hard-to-place 1-1 INGAMING team.

Self Sufficient:
These teams don't need any outside help to qualify.

INGAMING Esports:
After a weak 2021 season, in which INGAMING only made one challengers finals tournament, INGAMING committed to a complete roster rebuild. That move has put them at 1-1 after two matches, a 0-2 loss against FURIA and a 2-0 win against Sharks. Losing to the best team in the group and beating the worst one makes it difficult to figure out how good INGAMING truly is, but they will have a chance to determine that for themselves, when they play fellow one loss teams in the following weeks. They play 1-1 Vivo Keyd next, followed by 2-1 NIP, if they win both, they are in the playoffs without needing any assistance.

Vivo Keyd:
After a dream finish to the 2021 season, which capped off with a masters 3 and Champions appearance, Vivo Keyd currently looks unlikely to make it back to LAN. After a 2-1 win against Sharks, Vivo Keyd lost to NIP 1-2. Sitting at 1-1 with a dominant FURIA that shows no signs of slowing down is not where Vivo Keyd wants to be, especially with INGAMING breathing down their neck. Vivo Keyd has a chance to put down INGAMING next week, and will then face FURIA in the most anticipated week 5 matchup. Win both, and Vivo Keyd will be playoff bound.

Eliminated:
It is a mathematical certainty this team will not be in the playoffs

Sharks:
After a solid 2021 season that included a berth at Masters: Iceland, Sharks, like many other teams in the region, replaced most of their players. This move was most likely the single worst move that Sharks have made as a team. Sharks were lucky enough to get invited to the group stage and showed up dead on arrival. In three matches, Sharks have only won one map. While many of their maps have been competitive, it never amounted to a win. Sitting at 0-3 with only one match left against 3-0 FURIA, even if Sharks were to win, have no mathematically possible route to qualify out of the group stage, so you won’t be seeing this team in the playoffs. With the way things are going, you probably wont see this current roster at any playoffs this year.

Nice writeup

BRAZIL GROUP A Thanks for reading, I will not be covering the EMEA group stages until another week has been played for every team in the bracket, as it is too difficult to determine how teams are doing after two matches, which I learned while writing about INGAMING. I will have the next NA article up after the sunday matches! NA GROUP A ll NA GROUP B

Oof that TLDR dunks on Sharks. They have looked worse and worse each week. I think they have some good pieces, but they got a rough draw with this group and have lost all momentum.

although FURIA only need to win one out of two games, i don't think it's gonna be a piece of cake since neither sharks not Vivo Keyd can lose the next one. VK needs it and I think sharks really want to avoid the embarrassment.

I don't like this NIP roster, i think jonn has a great aim but doesn't seem to bother to play smarter or to get the most out of the agents he plays with (for example, he's been playing Jett, although he ain't a Oper. he over picks without dismiss on reyna etc), i do think Xand is good, a better Jett than Jonn (but Xand also is more flex, when jonn just isn't, so they have a role problem). NIP's support is pretty great, cauazin is a strong sova, bezn is getting a lot of value as sentinel, he has a strong anchor and is also a clutch master, and bnj is good with his utilities and win duels. this team has a lot of aim, but I see them as a pug team, imo, sometimes lacks strategy. they might be winning out of their aim on VCT BR, but it won't hold on masters. this is the reason why I don't want them to go much further. anyway, I hope VK and FURIA classifies in group B.

Good read!! Appreciate it <3