NiP vs HEROIC - Stake Ranked Episode 3

NiP enter this Bo3 in strong shape. Back-to-back wins over Gentle Mates and K27 confirm the team is clicking heading into this matchup. World ranking 28 backs that form up with hard data.

HEROIC's recent month looks good on paper with a perfect record, but the opponents tell the story. Wins over Phantom and 3DMAX are solid, yet a loss to Liquid a month ago showed the team struggles when the competition steps up. Their Mirage weakness at 40% over 15 maps is a real liability that NiP can exploit.

The map pool angle seals it for NiP. Nuke at 75% over 28 maps is a near-automatic point. HEROIC's poor Mirage form and NiP's ability to steer away from Dust2, where both teams show shakiness, gives the Swedish side the cleaner path through the veto.

Thunderpick odds(at time of writing):

HEROIC to win 2.00

NiP to win 1.72