FaZe vs Cloud9 Prediction: First Challenge for the Cloudies

Prediction for the BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2024 match, which will take place on July 31st. Who will turn out to be stronger? Check the team conditions! Several betting options are available.

FaZe didn't get off to the best start in the new season. The team competed at the Esports World Cup 2024, ranking 5th to 8th. FaZe didn't wholly bomb out of the playoffs, but they only managed to win one match, against FlyQuest (2:0). The next match against Natus Vincere ended in a disappointing loss, despite Karrigan and his team putting up a good fight until the end. No less critical tournaments are on the horizon.

There's one thing we can count on: this team usually goes through a mini-crisis in the summer. FaZe typically wins a lot of titles in the first half of the year, and sometimes in the fall, too. But in 2022 and 2023, after the breaks, Karrigan's squad always has a hard time picking up the pace. The break was a good idea, though. The players never missed a top tournament and played all over the globe—from America to China. In the fall of 2023, with the release of CS2, the team held five tournaments in three months and showed their best at everyone.

Considering what FaZe does well, it's an experienced team where everyone pulls their weight. At any given moment, Broky, Ropz, or Frozen can take control of the server. Even older players like Karrigan can play at the same level as the best in the world. FaZe doesn't stand out with amazing numbers at tournaments, but the team is really smart in all areas. Even when they're not playing well after the breaks, they can still beat weaker opponents in their class. At the BLAST groups, FaZe has one serious opponent in G2 Esports. But they have to defeat Cloud9 first.

The Cloudies have decided to make some significant changes. To be more precise, the players on the previous squad made it so that the organization had to find replacements for them. The new Cloud9 lineup includes Boombl4, Ax1Le, ICY, HeavyGod, and interz. What are the prospects for the team in the test tournament?

One thing is for sure: starting five won't be winning titles outright. ICY and HeavyGod may flourish at Cloud9 in the future, but they currently have minimal experience at the tier-1 level. We'll have to wait and see how Ax1Le feels after the reshuffles, given that Sergey struggled to adjust to CS2 for a year. There are also some doubts about interz's form, given that the last time he played for TSM was six months ago, and that team didn't succeed much. Boombl4 will be able to put together a solid squad shortly, as he has the potential to rank in the top 10 on HLTV and make it to the majors in China. On the bright side, Kirill now has complete control of the team and can focus on building a roster. The organization is also pleased because it will no longer be the center of attention from the media and community.

Cloud9's primary goal at BLAST Premier is to play together, find their style of play, and figure out which maps are easier to perform on. On that front, the format is excellent for the team. The opponents are top-notch, and even if they fail, there's a Showdown, which lets them qualify for the fall finals of BLAST. Cloud9 has a reputation for struggling to put together top-performing lineups in cybersports. Seeing how the organization handles a young but promising roster will be interesting.