The battle to progress in the Major tournament is in full swing, and in this matchup, BIG faces Furia. I expect an intense and exciting affair, even though the game might not necessarily be marked by the most polished CS. However, the mental strength and intensity will not be lacking – that’s a guarantee. Both teams have been somewhat inconsistent and haven’t delivered their absolute best performances, but they have shown mental strength and the potential to perform at a higher level.
BIG has had fluctuating performances in the tournament. A disappointing effort against FlyQuest stands as a major setback, while the team showed strength in most of their match against Passion UA and delivered an impressive comeback against Virtus Pro, which has undoubtedly boosted their confidence. Furia has also struggled to find stability, and despite two wins out of three matches, their performances have not been convincing. Their continued participation in the tournament is largely the result of luck against both Wildcard and Imperial, where they avoided defeat.
Arguments for playing the tip:
- Despite some disappointments, BIG has been one of the more stable teams in this year’s Major, including during the RMR qualification. Their only loss came against FlyQuest, who has been a ghost for them.
- Furia, in my opinion, has delivered three disappointing performances, even though they won two of these three matches. However, the two wins were only possible due to mistakes from Wildcard and Imperial, meaning Furia could have easily lost both. It therefore surprises me that they are still in the tournament.
- Both teams tend to improve as the tournament progresses. BIG appears to be the stronger team when looking at their teamplay and fundamental strength.
- I expect BIG to pick their own map for this match. If there is uncertainty around the maps, it might be beneficial to wait until they are announced before placing bets. I see BIG as the favorites on Mirage, a map where they have shown their strength, but Vertigo and Anubis are also realistic alternatives.
- Furia is heavily reliant on Kscerato’s individual performance. If he’s not at his best, the team struggles to compete at the top level. Players like Chelo, Fallen, and Skullz haven’t been at their usual level, which BIG should take advantage of, despite having their own areas to improve.
Keep an eye on:
- Furia has now won two matches they should have lost, which might give them extra confidence and motivation. Their mental strength could prove crucial in the upcoming matches.
- BIG has been somewhat inconsistent, and it can be difficult to predict what form they will show in this match.
- While I’ve chosen to bet on BIG to win their own map, I consider Mirage the only map where BIG are clear favorites. On the other maps, Furia is definitely a strong opponent, and they’ve shown they can perform well.
- If Furia’s individual players like Yuurih and Kscerato perform at their best, they will pose a significant threat to BIG, who will struggle to cope with such a level
