ESL One New York Semi-Final 2 Preview: Liquid vs Gambit

September 29, 2018 | 0 | 842| |

We attempt to analyse the match between Liquid and Gambit as the two teams face off in the second semi-final of ESL One New York.

ESL One New York has been a crazy rollercoaster so far. The Group Stage served up some massive upsets. But, one team that has prevailed amidst all the chaos is Liquid. The North American powerhouse have not let their semi-final finish at the FACEIT London Major dampen their mood.

Journey to the Semi-Final

Liquid rampaged through Group B at ESL One New York. NRG provided some resistance in the opener. But, Liquid overcame their fellow North Americans before pummelling through G2 to top Group B and secure their passage in the semi-finals.

Gambit surprised everyone by taking down Major runners-up Natus Vincere in the opener. They narrowly lost out to mousesports, setting up a rematch with Natus Vincere. The CIS derby saw Gambit repeat their heroics and prevail in straight maps to secure a semi-final berth at ESL One New York.

Potential Map Veto

As good as it gets? (Picture Courtesy – HLTV)

Liquid have been flexible with their map pool so far. Gambit on the other hand, will continue to pick Mirage as their automatic ban. Liquid could opt to remove Nuke as a respect-ban. Gambit will go for Train as their pick, while Liquid can take advantage of Gambit’s vulnerability on Inferno and Dust2 by picking one of the two.

Liquid should pick Dust2, with Gambit having a slightly better showing on Inferno at ESL One New York. Overpass has always been a strong map for Gambit and Liquid should move to ban it in the next phase. Gambit should in turn could ban Mirage, with Inferno emerging as the decider.

Prediction

Liquid 2-0 Gambit

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ESL One New York is already a success story for Gambit. But, like mousesports, changes might be in the offing for the CIS giants. Abay ‘Hobbit’ Khasenov has been placed on the transfer list and should make his way to a new team soon. Still, Gambit will be more than pleased with the improved placing at ESL One New York.

Liquid on the other hand, have always had a good showing at ESL events. They have fallen short on a couple of occasions recently. But, the North American powerhouse should make it to the final in dominant fashion to get a shot at grabbing the ESL One trophy on home soil.