Ninjas in Pyjamas (World rank: #6) vs. Movistar Riders (World rank: #24) - 11:00 A.M. ET
Moneyline Odds: Ninjas in Pyjamas (-430) | Movistar Riders (+320)
Map Handicap: Ninjas in Pyjamas -1.5 (-130) | Movistar Riders +1.5 (Even)
Map Total: Over 2.5 (+145) | Under 2.5 (-180)
- This is a best-of-three series for the quarter-finals of the IEM Fall 2021 Europe playoffs.
- Ninjas in Pyjamas - stats at event: device 1.45 | hampus 1.23 | LNZ 1.19 | REZ 1.15 | Plopski 1.06
- Ninjas in Pyjamas - stats past three months: device 1.16 | hampus 1.12 | REZ 1.11 | Plopski 1.02 | LNZ 0.92
- Movistar Riders - stats at event: alex 1.15 | SunPayus 1.14 | mopoz 1.12 | DeathZz 1.01 | dav1g 0.96
- Movistar Riders - stats past three months: SunPayus 1.18 | alex 1.13 | mopoz 1.11 | DeathZz 1.05 | dav1g 0.92
H2H Data:
- These rosters have never faced each other.
Prediction/Narrative: NiP sweeps 2-0.
This is a crucial series for both teams. Ninjas in Pyjamas have already qualified for the major, but they will be looking to earn ‘Legend Status’ with a strong finish at IEM Fall. Legend Status would allow NiP to skip the initial Challengers bracket for the biggest event of the year, so it would certainly mean a lot to them. On the other side, Movistar Riders need just one more win at this event to qualify for the major. This match would not be their only opportunity if they do fail, but they will surely want to secure that spot as soon as possible.
Dust2 & Vertigo are the permabans for these teams, so both maps should get removed to start. Movistar Riders will likely pick Nuke where they have a nine map win streak, if you include the two tiebreakers from group stage. NiP have looked solid on Nuke, though they haven’t really been tested on it all that much. Nuke is one of device’s best maps with a 1.33 Rating across seven maps played, and he has been dominating overall at this LAN event, so I’d have trouble picking against him and his team especially on Nuke. Inferno would be Movistar Riders’ next best option, but NiP have now won six in a row on that map, so there really isn’t a comfortable map pick for the Spanish side in this series with NiP banning Vertigo. Ninjas in Pyjamas have plenty of options here, but Ancient makes the most sense given the fact that Movistar Riders are only 1-3 on that map with their current roster. Overall, the map pool should significantly favor NiP, and I don’t see Movistar Riders taking a single map.
On Draftkings, stacking NiP is definitely my priority. REZ is a lock for me at his $8,000 price tag. He hasn’t been the star of his team at this event, but he’s still been excellent with a 1.15 Rating, and his salary seems way too cheap for his potential upside. Device has been absolutely on fire since we’ve gotten back on LAN, and he looks excellent at $9,200. Hampus is a more volatile play based on his aggressive playstyle, so he is not my top option at $8,600, but he still looks fine. I prefer LNZ over Plopski as a value option based on his much lower price and his form at this event, though I don’t mind either one. Movistar Riders are not my focus on this slate, but SunPayus would be my favorite option on that side, followed by mopoz since we might see Ancient in this series.
Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority):
REZ ($8,000) | device ($9,200) | LNZ ($5,400) | Plopski ($7,000) | hampus ($8,600)
Vitality (World rank: #3) vs. Copenhagen Flames (World rank: #19) - 2:15 P.M. ET
Moneyline Odds: Vitality (-310) | Copenhagen Flames (+240)
Map Handicap: Vitality -1.5 (+105) | Copenhagen Flames +1.5 (-130)
Map Total: Over 2.5 (+130) | Under 2.5 (-160)
- This is a best-of-three series for the quarter-finals of the IEM Fall 2021 Europe playoffs.
- Vitality - stats at event: ZywOo 1.38 | shox 1.23 | misutaaa 1.10 | apEX 0.96 | Kyojin 0.88
- Vitality - stats past three months: ZywOo 1.26 | misutaaa 1.05 | shox 1.04 | apEX 0.99 | Kyojin 0.94
- Copenhagen Flames - stats at event: jabbi 1.30 | nicoodoz 1.25 | roeJ 1.05 | Zyphon 1.01 | HooXi 0.97
- Copenhagen Flames - stats past three months: roeJ 1.19 | jabbi 1.13 | nicoodoz 1.13 | Zyphon 1.08 | HooXi 0.92
H2H Data:
- These rosters have never faced each other.
Prediction/Narrative: Vitality wins 2-1.
Once again, this series is important for both teams. Similar to NiP, Vitality are locked into the major, but need a good result in the IEM Fall Playoffs to make sure that they have ‘Legend Status’. Copenhagen Flames will be seeking just one more win to secure their spot in the major, though they will have additional opportunities in the 5th-8th place decider bracket.
Vitality will surely stick with their typical Ancient ban since that has been Copenhagen’s best map in the past few months. Copenhagen typically ban Dust2, and they will likely remove it first here, even though it has been one of Vitality’s weaker maps with Kyojin in the lineup. CPH Flames don’t have a comfortable map pick here considering the strength of Vitality’s map pool, but Nuke is their most likely option considering they’ve won six in a row on that map. Vitality would be able to start CT, which is typically an advantage, but their CT round win rate is a measly 35.8% in the past month across four maps played. Vitality have a few great options for their own map pick, but Inferno probably makes the most sense considering they’ve won six in a row on that map, and it has also been one of Copenhagen’s weaker maps. Vitality should have an advantage in the map pool against a majority of teams, including CPH Flames, but I do think that the Danes can stay competitive on most maps, and they could even steal Nuke from the French. Vitality's form in recent month suggests that this will be a quick series for them, but I have a feeling that Copenhagen will catch Vitality a bit off guard in a tight series.
On Draftkings, ZywOo is my top priority per usual, and I am looking at him as a ‘free square’ on pretty much every two series slate. I would even try to get him at captain if you can find the salary. I don’t feel nearly as confident in any of the other Vitality options though, and I would rather save some salary with the value options on Copenhagen Flames. Nicoodoz looks really solid at $6,200 as one of the top options on his team with the AWP in his hands. RoeJ is the other main source of firepower for the Danish side, and his price tag is also very reasonable at $7,400, so I think he makes for another excellent play. Misutaaa, jabbi, and apEX would be my next favorite options, but no one else stands out too much in a match-up that I think could be pretty back and forth. Vitality have been in elite form in recent months, but Copenhagen went 5-0 during the group stage and are definitely capable of putting Vitality to the test, especially if Vitality try to disrespect the Danes at all.
Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority):
ZywOo ($9,600) | nicoodoz ($6,200) | roeJ ($7,400) | misutaaa ($8,400) | jabbi ($6,800) | apEX ($6,600)