On May 2, Invictus Gaming and Nigma will hold another match in the Wild Card WePlay AniMajor 2021. The Chinese team came to Kiev without their own assistant, Oli's place will be taken by the team's coach. How much impact will the replacement have on the reigning champions of the Singapore major, and will Nigma take advantage of it?
Invictus Gaming: still strong
Chinese teams are now showing a very strong game, Invictus Gaming came to Kiev as the reigning champion of the Singapore major, and if not for the substitution, the team would clearly be in the list of the main favorites of the tournament. The Chinese team still looks like a formidable contender, although it's worth admitting that they've got it under control in the Chinese first division and have only allowed them to take fourth place. It is still unclear how much impact the substitution will have, in the main Invictus Gaming won the last five games and looked powerful, but the replacement may play a key role. Nevertheless, Nigma is not the strongest opponent at this stage and one card IG should definitely win.
Will they be able to move on?
Nigma was able to take third place in the first European division. The team had a great chance to stay on the second line and ensure themselves at least a replay for the group stage of the Kiev Major, but in the last match Nigma lost to Tundra Esports and let Team Liquid go to the group stage instead. You can not say that at the end of the first division of Europe Nigma showed a confident game, losses to Tundra, Alliance, Team Liquid do not add faith in the teams against the Chinese grandees. If Invictus Gaming came without replacements, they would be the clear favorites of the meeting, and so probably the teams will part ways having earned one victory each.
Forecast for Invictus Gaming vs Nigma
Invictus Gaming looks stronger than their opponent today, but they will come with replacements, which adds a little chance for Nigma, if not to win, at least to win one card. In my opinion, the teams will part ways in this encounter.
Bookmakers offer odds of 3.5 for a win by Nigma, which looks like a good option.