Those who loved watching the recent IEM Rio Major in Brazil have not had to wait long for the next major event on the Counter Strike: Global Offensive circuit with this week marking the start of the CS:GO BLAST Premier Fall Finals.
The event in Copenhagen, Denmark features eight teams, six of which qualified from the BLAST Premier Fall Groups with the other two qualifying via the American and European Showdowns respectively.
And on Wednesday, the event gets underway with two matches in each group.
OG can again push struggling FaZe Clan
What: FaZe Clan vs OG, CS:GO BLAST Premier Fall
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: 09.00am, Wednesday 23rd November 2022
How to watch: BLASTPremier Twitch channel
Not long ago, FaZe Clan were considered giants in the world of CS:GO but the team has been on a steady decline in the last few months, culminating in an underwhelming exit in the Legends Stage of the recent IEM Rio Major.
FaZe posted a 0-3 win-loss record in Brazil, finishing bottom of the Legends Stage standings, and they slipped to eighth in the HLTV world rankings, having been in the top two with Natus Vincere earlier in the year.
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They were also not particularly convincing in the BLAST Premier Fall Groups, having to rely on victory over Astralis in their Last Chance Match to qualify for these BLAST Premier Fall Finals.
And in the BLAST Premier Fall Groups, they were knocked out of the play-in stage by none other than OG, who are their first opponents in Copenhagen.
OG defeated FaZe Clan 2-1 in the semi-finals of the play-in stage before overpowering Astralis themselves to secure a spot at this event.
These sides also clashed in the SteelSeries Nova Invitational back in August with FaZe Clan coming out on top 2-1 on that occasion and over 2.5 maps could once again be a good bet at 10/11 when they reconvene.
Heroic should have the edge over Ninjas in Pyjamas
What: Heroic vs Ninjas in Pyjamas, CS:GO BLAST Premier Fall
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: 12.00pm, Wednesday 23rd November 2022
How to watch: BLASTPremier Twitch channel
Odds: Heroic 2/5, Ninjas in Pyjamas 7/4
Heroic may not have what it takes to go the distance at the BLAST Premier Fall Finals with Natus Vincere a tough side to stop but they should cause a stir in Group A, starting with victory over Ninjas in Pyjamas.
They are 2/5 to do so and that looks about right but to get more value out of the match, punters should consider backing Heroic to win 2-1 at 11/5.
Playing in their home country, the Danes can take confidence from their run to the final of the IEM Rio Major recently and that moved them up to second in the world rankings.
Two of their last three wins at the IEM Rio in Brazil were by a 2-1 scoreline against FURIA and Team Liquid and Ninjas In Pyjamas, who won the Svenska Cupen in October, can pick up a map.
G2 Esports look a wise bet in tight tussle
What: Team Liquid vs G2 Esports, CS:GO BLAST Premier Fall
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: 18.00pm, Wednesday 23rd November 2022
How to watch: BLASTPremier Twitch channel
Odds: Team Liquid 1/1, G2 Esports 8/11
The toughest match to call on Wednesday in the CS:GO BLAST Premier Fall is Team Liquid's tussle with G2 Esports.
G2 Esports did not qualify for the recent IEM Rio Major but they nonetheless remain a force on the CS:GO scene, having finished the group stage of season 16 of the ESL Pro League with a 5-0 win-loss record.
They went on to beat Natus Vincere in the tournament's quarter-finals before exiting in the last four at the hands of Team Vitality and they could be a team to watch in Copenhagen.
They are a team laden with quality players, having finished as runners-up at the IEM Katowice at the start of the year, and they should have a little more freshness about them than Team Liquid, who were in the Legends Stage of the IEM Rio Major but failed to make the knockouts with a 2-3 record.
This is expected to be a tight contest but G2 can make their added experience count and look a solid enough bet at 8/11 to start the BLAST Premier Fall Finals with a win.
