it's not about the players. It's the approach to the game. These are definitely all still championship level players (Not entirely sure about D4v41 anymore honestly, but Something/Jingg/Forsaken/Patmen and I think even Mindfreak still are). BUT both their roles and their approach to the game were really off, especially until they got Patmen.

yeah for sure, the other dude was just unnecessarily rude, doesn't help to get your point across. And he's making comparisons that just don't make sense to me - anyways, respect for keeping somewhat civil have a nice day man!

his point about Tenz's peak being in 2024 I could see though. The dude played more roles (though is role in the team, not in-game, was pretty similar. Aggressive playmaker.) And still owned, against teams that we consider very good at this point. But it doesn't diminish his 2021 performance at all, it was insane, the best we've seen a player at a tournament yet. Though due to the difference in level, we probably won't see players as clear-cut above the rest as the early days. (like Tenz, or Nats on viper back in the day etc.)

'cause it's posted on this site.

There might be another team that's also shit on map 1, but iirc most Talon wins (almost all 2-1) they played a map down to win.

Your name does not check out in this case, sir. This would actually go pretty hard I think.

BuZz is categorically a better duelist than Hyunmin. Hyunmin is amazing, don't get me wrong, but BuZz is on another level

Seeing a Fnatic resurgence would be cool, but honestly I'm rooting for Prx. Would be sick if either prx or th get their first trophy, finally.

would the 5th be Kj? Sova?

oh for sure, but I felt like there was a lot of clean shots and a lot of whiffs from all of the players - in the same maps is weird to me, it's not that they're constantly off or on, they're switching a ton. That kind of difference feels a little like it's outside of player's hands. I could be wrong though.

yeah but it feels shaky for all the players honestly... The replays are also super choppy. Wouldn't be surprised if the game just isn't running smooth, and that's why individuals look off. All of them had moments where I was like "Heh? That's weird..."

Stellar, Sylvan, JohnQT, Aspas, RobbieBK, Beyn & Laz probably

I did so terribly on this one oof

if you want a lowkey game, I've always enjoyed Kingdom 2 crowns so so much, super relaxing (for the most part) - even has a co-op option! Stardew Valley is also great for something chill. Both are indie games, so pretty cheap and directly supporting the devs!

what 100 factors lined up for them? They had one of the hardest roads towards a trophy you could've had in Bangkok. Really only their match against Trace wasn't as difficult as it could've been, and even then it was not an easy game. Facing the favourites for that tournament, Vitality/EDG/G2 (and 2 of those multiple times) and still winning the trophy. EG in 2023 champs never faced fnatic, who probably would've given them a much harder time. (Not delegitimising EG's win, just pointing out how they could've had a harder run)

T1 are trying different things now, they need to find a groove for single duelist, because they excelled at double duelist. Trying out things will generally make you worse, less reps, not as strong instincts etc.

"NRG super fan" Checks out, sadly :(

Everyone has their right to an opinion, but there's a huge difference between "I don't like cauliflower" and hatefully misgendering someone, not giving them basic respect. An opinion would be "trans people don't exist, the gender dysphoria is caused by something else". It would be a misinformed opinion, but an opinion nonetheless. But putting She in quotation marks shows poor respect and little decency regarded towards Flor.

it's so sad to see basic compassion just... missing on this site. Especially when talking about Flor or other gamechangers/lgbtq+ players, but just as much so when it comes to players in general. Glad there's enough people standing up to it though.

happy birth!

Vouch for all of these, but especially DRX v FPX Ascent, might be the greatest map of all time

Cauanzin and Tuyz seriously went from players worthy of being title contenders, with Cauanzin honestly probably having a really good chance to have been an mvp for a tournament, to both playing super questionable. The leadership in Loud has just fully vanished.

yeah but Gekko is very limited in where he can throw his flashes exactly. What made Skye good with the swamp comp is the walls, you could section off parts to figure out where the enemies were, and have a decent entry flash on top of that.

No way you're using Skrossi as a similar example to T3xture and Monyet??? Like he's been playing well, but it is not comparable

I mean this'll be a banger match, but it can't be an El Classico if these teams only had a match once before, with entirely different rosters man. (only Tomaszy from that roster)

chill out honestly, even if it's a bad decision it can't be this important

In this case, it was because of personal issues, nothing to do with the team, as far as I am aware. (I believe the org owner talked about it)

It might make sense if they just put Com on perma senti, Tex and Kingg on duelist and 2nd entry (like a breach or a fade or something) - they need a spacemaker and someone to take space off of that. Aspas was relatively passive as a duelist on Lev, but Tex took a lot of duels together with him. They need someone to make, and then someone to take space - which currently is both Kingg, and that's dysfunctional.

Idk, I think if you really feel you need to make changes, I'd think Lukxo for Tuyz (even though I like Tuyz) and Nozwer for V1nny (if trials go right).

The igling looks like a mess, there's too many individual mistakes. It seems Saadhak leaving really hurt Loud, so more coaching might help as well? Too many individual mistakes, and I think also an off-game for loud, players of their calibre really shouldn't be losing aim duels that much.

Where did you manage to find these numbers? I'm curious :)

What about the options,
Zander doesn't perform well - cryo smokes
Cryo learning a diff role (Sentinel/Smokes - both fit his playstyle to a certain degree, could be doable)
Zikz + Boostio + Eeiu is def who I'm keeping too, though. Maybe Cryo if you can build around it a little.

Lmao FR, heavily underrating Apac & China, and overrating EMEA & Americas.

There are now multiple ones from China's kick off (EDG vs XLG and DRG)

They kind of were that bad, only having one of each ability really really hurts Neon imo

I think the team will be pretty good, but with the likes of Vitality, Heretics, Fnatic & possibly kc it’ll be difficult for Apeks to qualify to any internationals. I really really hope they do well though!

Sonder or Dodonut would be good replacements, I think.

I feel like it also depends slightly on how much weight you put on individual vs team performance. I feel like BuZz & Shao could rival Chronicle in individual performance to some extent (especially BuZz) but since Chronicle has had a more consistent international appearance. Definitely agree that Chronicle is probably the best player we have up until now.

I feel like we could argue that we don't really have a goat in val yet, or you can argue certain performances make a different player (reykjavik TenZ or 2022 Yay) arguable for the spot. Though, Chronicle is easily in the top 10 players of all time, incredibly consistent, and straight up an amazing pick up for which ever team he lands on. (I'm slightly biased though, so like... take with a grain of salt. My personal goats are Shao, BuZz, Rb &F0rSaken.)

I feel like the silent majority either don't care or support? From what I can tell by frags on this site at least, but yeah it's sad that there's so much unnecessary hate towards her.

I think if Suy were to play senti he'd be shining right now, he's adjusting to the new role as well. He's had flashes of brilliance, but Shin was so good on controller that it was dumb to replace him anyways.

kinda curious, which 2 teams do you think he wouldn't be the best on? (and it would be out of 12 no? due to ascension?)

Shao's smokes are kind of amazing, but then again I also think his initiator is possibly even better - that dude is just insane. Kind of weird how navi fumbled with Suygetsu & Shao on the team.

Bit of a tangent anyways, but yeah as a controller Tenz was not even close to being in goat status. Also, no RB or Forsaken for flex is kind of insane (or even Victor D4v41 or Zyppan)

if it were Ange1 yeah, but Shao has to be top 4 minimum, no?

Doug is a goated caster tbh, but Babybay just doesn't fit the casting role. He's great on the desk analysing but he doesn't have the oomph for casting? It's a weird je ne sais qoui that I can't quite place, but he just doesn't have it. Same with Mimi, love her in everything, but I'm not a fan of her casting.

While it was definitely a few of the first times that Verno was on Cypher (I think he played it once before this tournament? Not sure though) It isn't his first time on the role. Verno played KJ and Chamber before, and also quite a lot of Sage (Though I don't know if I'd put Sage in the same category as Cypher in the lurk-ey self-sufficient role).

The past few games were the very first time that N4rrate every played sentinel at all in pro play. Verno is for sure more comfortable.

A huge part of this is also the roles, John and N4rr4te seem very uncomfortable. They default to positions of their previous roles, John on his own and N4rr4ate with the pack, which doesn't work when John is your initiator and N4rr4te your sentinel. They either have to switch the roles around again, or get a lot more practice on these roles.

You chose a Czech flag, I'd stick with that. If only for the reason that the Czech flag is by far the best looking flag out of those 3

Pro play is excellent on that map, and while defense is a little difficult - especially in non-coordinated play - I don't think that makes the map bad. You need to be somewhat aggressive for defense to work, which will only really work in ranked, since people don't communicate in swifts and unrated. The map itself is great, the only worry is with the orbs.

nearly all of these are good takes. However HOWEVER consider: Fracture is the 3rd best map in the game, one of the most fun to play and the most fun to watch in pro play.

the entire original drx roster just needed better management :(

They fucked it all over in '23 and then just dropped 2 amazing players - Termi just doesn't have faith in any roster anymore man

Cypher or Deadlock with any white neo frontier skins are elite