The International 2022
Group Stage
Fnatic vs Team SoloMid FTX
Format: BO2
18.10.2022 11:00 (UTC+3)
From October 15 to 30, Singapore will host The International 11. At the biggest eSports tournament of the year, twenty teams will battle for the right to raise Aegis over their heads. Teams have been coming to this event throughout the year, participating in regional DPC leagues and majors, so only the strongest representatives from their locations have come to Singapore. But only one group of five players would make their dream come true and write their names in the history of The International tournaments.
Fnatic and Team SoloMid FTX will meet in the middle of the group series. Will any of the teams be able to get two valuable points? Or will the teams play a draw?
Claim Your Welcome Bonus!Fnatic, friends turned rivals
For a team from Southeast Asia, the very act of qualifying for The International could make for a documentary in its own right. After the Arlington Major, Fnatic was 0.05 points behind in the DPC rankings, but due to re-calculations by Valve, they moved up to 12th place and won their last trip to TI11. The organization manager probably still can't believe that outcome.
It's hard to judge the team's results. At the PGL Arlinghton Major 2022, the team consisted of half of Team SoloMid FTX players. In the regular DPC leagues it was consistently regarded as a favorite and got a slot in the major, but the level of competition in the region allowed it to do so at half its potential. However, at the first major in 2022 in Stockholm, the team made it to the top-8. And at ESL One Malaysia 2022 they even made it to the top of the playoffs and made it to the top-4.
After three days of play, Fnatic sits in fifth place with seven points. It's hard to predict the team's results, because they are capable of turning the tables against the favorites in one day and losing to the main outsider in the group without any action. Raven has a near-perfect Terrorblade and has been farming well over the course of the tournament, while Armel has 9.6 kills per game. The team plays with meta picks, not trying to be complicated. If the Jabz team had beaten Talon Esports, they could have been a real contender for top-4 Group B and made the top playoff spot. Instead, they need to win every map tomorrow.
By all statistical measures, Fnatic looks preferable to their opponent. In terms of visual play, the team from Southeast Asia also looks more convincing. Based on the previous three game days, Jabz' tam will win the third match in Group B.
Team SoloMid FTX, fighting for playoffs in agony
The popular American organization has not gone wrong in choosing a roster to enter the new discipline. The line-up consisting of Timado, Bryle, SabeRLight-, MoonMeander, and DuBu earned $370,000 for 2022. Unexpectedly for many, the team clinched the North American top-1 title, eclipsing the region's long-time and uncontested leader, Evil Geniuses.
Team SoloMid FTX even played in the Stockholm Major final, losing to OG in a hard-fought battle. However, the team players did not participate under their own banner at the second major. The organization did not make it to the home tournament, and the cyber athletes played as substitutes for Entity Gaming and Fnatic. And while the latter failed to make the top 8, SabeRLight- played on the carry with Fishman and set the tone for a new meta with three seven-core players. It looked spectacular and effective.
Team SoloMid FTX's performance in Singapore may be over after the group stage. With a score of 4-10, they share 9th-10th place with Talon Esports, two wins away behind the playoff zone. Even with losses to Entity Gaming and beastcoast, they need to win at least three maps out of four to guarantee a spot in the lower bracket.
The team still has problems with frags (20 per game), farming (2 130 GPM per game). By all accounts they are inferior to Fnatic. There is a chance that MoonMeander will not be on the stage of The International 11, because it will not be able to oppose the team from Southeast Asia.
Expert Betting Tips
The Fnatic players are in great shape and ready to win the series 2-0. The odds on this outcome are 3.50 at Betway.
Fnatic will score Total Over (50.5) Frags in two maps. The odds on this outcome are 1.78 at 1xbet.
Both Raven and Armel are capable of making an ultrakill in this match. The odds on this outcome are 3.25 at Bet365.