The sixth season of ECS will end at a new stadium in Arlington - this is the second coming of FaceIt to the US and the third to North America, people love CS there. All according to the standard: 8 teams, 660.000$ prize pool and four days of the best CS a great atmosphere. Now it’s time to tell you what to expect from each of the participating teams.

Astralis

Now, over the tier-1 teams, there is another level of the game – Astralis. And the tournament in Arlington will not have a group of favorites, but the only favorite. What to say if the odds on the victory of the Danes in the whole event is close to 2.00 (what means that probability of Astralis’ win is 50%)?

And it so happened the way the list of the finalists of this season is not so serious, given the form of Astralis. In the best of 3 key matches, only two teams here and now theoretically can compete Astralis: Liquid (if not broken psychologically) and Mousesports in their best day.

Astralis won 8 tournaments out of the last 11, in which it took part, and goes to America for the third ECS title (before Astralis won the 5th and the 2nd seasons). After the October LAN-break, which took the Danish team, Astralis still rolls into the season firstly psychologically, but in key matches, it leaves no chance to opponents. By the way, this is a good reason to try to play on the handicaps on the opponents of the Danes in the group stage. Usually, Astralis gives a small slack at the start of tournaments.

But if anyone can seriously try to stop Astralis, it's one of the three commands below.

Who will try to stop Astralis?

Liquid

Sooner or later, Liquid will either fall apart and players will quarrel, or the team will learn how to win and collect their will in a fist in the decisive matches. It can’t last so long, the nerves are not endless and the denouement is coming. Liquid looks like the main contender for the second place, but if the Americans did not fix the psychological moment, then there is a real probability of Liquid's lose in its favorite semi-final stage.

There are no questions about the game: a decent pool of maps, understanding of the game, timings and detailed preparation for opponents. But how it will help if the main enemy is Liquid – Liquid?

Mousesports

Mousesports probably will not win the tournament, but it’s possible for them to spoil the nerves of Astralis, and to win any team in a single match. It all depends on how Mousesports plays their first match of the tournament against Made in Brazil. The ECS Finals lasts only a couple of days and the European team tends to get out of the bottom after the fail for a couple of matches. The failed match against the Brazilians for mice is equal to the failed tournament. But if Mousesports starts strong, it can greatly complicate the life of Astralis. If the Danes take second place in the group and will see off Liquid in the semifinals, there is a small chance that Liquid will not have time to unravel and there will be a sensation. This is all just talks, but at the same time, this option is similar to the only one in which Astralis can be truly stopped. And this will require joint work of Mouz and Liquid.

As for the chances of Mousesports at the tournament, the semi-final is more than real.

Made in Brazil

The situation with MIBR is similar to Mousesports’, but with three amendments: Brazilians are much more prone to tilt, they have a weaker pool of maps, and we have not seen a normal game from them for a long time. But no way to ignore a team with such a strong lineup of players. And if Mousesports can be somehow represented in our minds as a team that raises the championship Cup of the sixth season of ECS, Made in Brazil... No. It seems that Brazilians can believe in themselves, but only for a couple of matches, no more.

Therefore, even considering that MIBR can beat anyone in a particular match, the semi-final is its reasonable limit. And if they manage to jump above the head, the Brazilians can pass to the final, but no way to win for them.

They won't go beyond the semi-finals

Ninjas in Pyjamas

If two months ago the Swedish team looked very solid, now its conditions are clearly worse. However, the stability appeared hopes that the NiP will strike again. As for the major. They almost got it there, here in Arlington it'll be easier to do. Group B looks weaker as the main contender for the first place is Liquid. And the starting match also favors Ninjas in Pyjamas: NRG is extremely unstable, and this is a big plus. But how NiP will contest Astralis or Mousesports in the semi-final? So small chance for the success and the Swedes should be glad if they manage to go to the playoffs.

NRG

NRG is put on a par with Ninjas in Pyjamas, but in reality, it is going to be much more difficult even for Americans rather for NiP. They come from match to match in completely different conditions. But it concerns the international arena, by the way, NRG is the winner of the regional division of ECS 6. The only thing that can give them strength and stability is the fact of the home tournament. The main problem is still the star of the team, Cerq. His conditions are instability. When he was “all right” in the spring and summer, the NRG did very well. The last few months his play is pretty bad, and the team sometimes plays almost 4 vs 5. No, he plays well, but everyone has very bigger expectations for Cerq. He used to be a star player and now he performs like average players. In general, NRG cannot win a single match, and in the same time they can compete for the playoffs. For now, the American is the pig in a poke.

North

If we are talking about the fact that NRG is unstable, then what can we say about North? Good quality and results in recent online game intersect, for example, with a complete (by the standards of “northerners”) fail on the IEM Chicago. It is clear that the team's ambitions are very serious, but it seems that North is not aware of the real possibilities of the roster. Take for the success of victory in online matches is not necessary and LAN-tournaments truly shows the real level of the team. North was lucky to get into the weaker group, which leaves its options to reach the semifinals from second place, but nothing more.

Kio is the problem?

Cloud9

Cloud9 deserves a separate place in the preview. Their chances would not be so bad, but the group is strong. Even in matches versus Mousesports and MIBR the American team is definitely not a favorite, what to say about Astralis. Against which, by the way, C9 will play the opening match. K1o, of course, not a problem, but there’s a feeling that his arrival brought most unfortunate alignment to Cloud9. In theory, if the С9 will gather, it will compete for the playoffs. But the most likely option that C9 need time. Frankly speaking, for C9 it will be a good result to show teeth in the group and to win at least one match.

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Tournament Format

Open Qualifiers:

Single elimination bracket, opening matches are best-of-one, rest best-of-three.

Top two qualify for Challenger Cup.

Closed Qualifiers (Challenger Cup):

Double elimination bracket, best-of-three matches.

Top two qualify for ECS S6.

Leagues:

Online round-robin, all teams play each other in two consecutive best-of-one matches.

Main tournament:

Group stage, GLS best-of matches.

Playoffs, single elimination bracket, best-of-three matches.

Esports Championship Series Season 6