SI2021: EU and Brazil Dominate First Two Days

Europe has placed two frontrunners in Group A in the form of BDS and Team Empire. However, Liquid and Team One are closing in on them fast. Group B is being led by the Ninjas in Pyjamas and Mkers, whereas the North American teams are struggling to keep up.

Both groups have only had one match day each, so the results don’t really tell the full picture. In Group B, some of the teams have only had two matches in total. However, the Ninjas in Pyjamas and Empire are showing signs of becoming favorites for the whole event, which few people would have expected to happen.

EMPIRE AND NIP ARE BACK?

Both teams have played out an underwhelming spring season. The Ninjas landed a fifth place in their Brazilian league, Team Empire even placed second-to-last in EUL, with only one regulation match win to their name throughout the entire season! So they weren’t expected to make it against the other regions’ top rosters at the Six Invitational 2021. Now, they’re the frontrunners of Group A and the only ones to have won all three of their matches on the first play-day.

They’ve had some serious competiton as well. Liquid, Team One, and BDS were the ones to place right behind them, but the Russians have already beaten them all. This is a great sign looking towards the playoffs, as they’ll be able to attain a fantastic seeding for the upcoming Double Elimination bracket.

The Ninjas are showing up similarly well. Their Giants encounter was a done deal from the start, but Mkers were quite formidably opponents and still couldn’t hold a candle to them. However, they’re still waiting to lock horns with TSM, SSG, and Oxygen. So their position at the top is by no means secure, as Spacestation Gaming are also experiencing a return to world-class form.

CANADIAN IS BACK!

Just recently, Troy “Canadian” Jaroslawski hung up the mouse. His motivation and hunger for trophies had simply dried up during the pandemic, so he wanted to retire from active competition. His participation at the Six Invitational 2021 came as a last-minute emergency solution, as their analyst, Luke “Luke” Slota, was unable to slot in as a replacement for him.

So Canadian wanted to put on the jersey one last time and step onto the server, even though he made sure to not hype up his fans too much. After all, he had been inactive for two months now. Even though the team intensely prepared for SI, this absence was almost impossible to recuperate. However, Canadian and his fans were proven wrong, as the legendary player mounted two clutches on the first day already. Going up against Giants, he recorded 11 kills and only one death. While TSM managed to narrowly scrape past Spacestation Gaming, Canadian and his men stand a real chance at making it deep at the Six Invitational – much more than what we anticipated.

BDS STRUGGLE, G2 BREAK APART

The European top favorites were definitely not prepared to see Empire showing up like this. They conceded a close overtime game on a 7-8 scoreline. At least they won their other two matches, even though DarkZero forced them into overtime again. What’s worrying, however, is that the BDS roster is inconsistent at the moment. Stéphane “Shaiiko” Lebleu doesn’t show anything of his usual dominance. In his place, Bryan “Elemzje” Tebessi and Loïc “BriD” Chongthep have become top performers for the French roster.

But nothing compares to what’s happening on the G2 camp right now. Three Brazilian teams, three losses… and now the legitimate fear of missing playoffs if they continue to underperform like this. Even worse, two of their games ended up in close overtime. One clutch gone differently, one choke less, and the team might be in the Top 4 of Group A right now. Jordan “Kayak” Morley now has to rally his troops and raise their morals once again. It stands to question whether the young and inexperienced Brit has the talents to do that.

For Empire, BDS, and NiP, things are looking great. G2 have a lot of catching-up to do if they still want to attain a good seeding for the playoffs. Their one-day break is already over, as Group A will continue with more matches today. In a few days, we’ll see whether Kayak and his men can step up and deliver the kind of performance that’s necessary to mount a deep run at the Six Invitational 2021.