CIS Minor StarLadder Major 2019 Odds & Preview: Forze Favored, Spirit Given +225 Odds
- The Starladder Berlin CIS Minor starts July 24th and runs until July 28th
- Is forZe a lock to advance to the Major?
- Other teams that could find themselves coming out on top in the CIS Minor
The second round of the Minor qualifiers for the StarLadder Berlin Major takes place from July 24-28, and in the CIS region there is a tight race to see who will win. Historically the CIS region produces some low-key great talent that always seem to at least shake things up when they get on the big stage at the Major.
forZe leads the odds table as the team that will come out with the first spot in the CIS Minor, but Spirit sits just behind them with +225 odds. Will it inevitably be a showdown between the two to see who comes out with the win at the Minor? Or are there other teams that are at least worth looking at to take the number one spot?
CIS Minor StarLadder Major 2019 Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| forZe | +200 |
| Spirit | +225 |
| Nemiga | +500 |
| Syman | +800 |
| Unique | +1000 |
| Dreameaters | +1600 |
| Gambit Youngsters | +1600 |
| Warthox | +2500 |
*Odds taken 07/11/19
A Foregone Conclusion?
Both forZe and Spirit have proven in the past that they are able to compete with some of the best teams in the world, and since the CIS Minor qualifier is usually a few really good teams but mostly average ones, they stand a pretty good chance of being the two that end up qualifying for the Major. forZe has found wins over some pretty decent teams over the past few months, and even took the world’s number one team, Liquid, to a third map at the Cologne qualifier.
forZe took the world’s number one team, Liquid, to a third map at the Cologne qualifier.
Spirit, on the other hand, has come through the CIS Minor on a few different occasions, qualifying for the last two Majors in Katowice and London. While at the Majors they didn’t have the best results, but they were at least able to find some wins in Boston, just barely missing out on making it through the New Challengers Stage and into the New Legends Stage.
Both teams stand a good chance of making it through the CIS Minor and have the chance to play for the big trophy in Berlin, but I think there may be some value elsewhere that is at least worth taking a look at.
Where Does the Real Money Lie?
Though I think that at least one of forZe and Spirit end up making it through the Minor, there is another team that offers better value and should be seriously considered in Berlin. Nemiga has shown over the past few months that they are a threat in the CIS region and they are able to hold their own against teams in that tier 2/3 range.
They recently beat out forZe in the finals of the Kalashnikov Cup, and have found wins over some recognizable names in lower tiers of Counterstrike. They are coming into the CIS Minor with 5-1 odds, and I think Nemiga stand a real chance of coming out of the other side with the win. So if you’re looking for more value than the two front-runners, Nemiga is your team.
Pick: Nemiga (+500)
Zack is a lifelong video game enthusiast that has been in the competitive scene for over 11 years. He currently works at TSN and has an in-depth understanding across multiple esports titles. From PC to console games, first person shooters to MOBA's, one-taps to five-man ult's, he knows it all.
