We are now approaching the final major tournament of the year, the Shanghai Major, and I’ve taken a closer look at the match between BIG and Passion UA. On paper, this looks like an exciting match. It’s a BO1, meaning there is no room for mistakes. It will be an intense duel where both teams will need to deliver their best performance.
Arguments for playing the tip:
- The two teams met in the RMR tournament, where BIG won 2-1. While it was a close match, BIG was clearly dominant on two out of the three played maps. This suggests that BIG has a tactical and stylistic edge over Passion UA.
- Passion UA is a relatively young team, and I don’t have high expectations for them in this tournament. I’m looking forward to seeing them play, but they will undoubtedly struggle to compete, especially as the pressure increases. The team lacks experience, and I believe they will have difficulties when things get tense.
- BIG is a team filled with experience and went through the RMR tournament with relative ease. They went undefeated 3-0 in the group stage, which was a huge surprise to me. The team’s gameplay was solid and well-prepared, and they appeared to be a dangerous team in the opening rounds of this major.
- BIG has a huge advantage if they can manage the veto correctly. They can steer the match towards maps where Passion UA is less comfortable. If the match ends up on maps like Dust2 or Mirage, it will be a huge advantage for BIG.
- Passion UA has shown strength, but their gameplay largely depends on Jambo being “on fire.” He has been a machine in this year’s RMR, and I’ve lost count of how many rounds he’s won single-handedly. Jambo is a massive talent, but he can’t carry the team alone in a BO1.
- When looking at firepower, teamplay, experience, and past success in major tournaments, BIG is simply the stronger team. If BIG can keep their cool and avoid getting shaken, they should defeat Passion UA, who are not known for being tactically strong.
Keep an Eye On:
- BIG hasn’t been at their best for several months, except for the three RMR games. There is clear potential, but players like Rigon, Syrson, and JDC haven’t been in top form yet. It’s fair to say they are one or two levels below their A-game, and Rigon has been far from his best.
- Passion UA plays with a form of “recklessness,” where they go all-out without too many tactical considerations. They play aggressively, which can be an advantage, but it could also become a challenge when facing a well-organized team like BIG, who are prepared for this kind of approach.
- If the match ends up in Anubis, it would be a huge advantage for Passion UA, as it’s a map they’ve had success on. However, I would be surprised if BIG allowed this map to be played. Instead, I expect the match to end up on Ancient, a map Passion UA has only lost twice in their last 10 matches. BIG will likely try to steer the veto away from Anubis and towards Ancient, where they’ve shown themselves to be stronger.
