Welcome to EGamersWorld.
It's been a while since we've had a VALORANT at EGW. Local VCT leagues are on pause, so the big VALORANT is on pause. However, that doesn't mean that there is no VALORANT at all.
There are local tournaments on the competitive scene, among which there are championships with a pretty good linup of participants. This is the Sentinels Invitational, hosted by Sentinels, which is not surprising.
The tournament is very modest in terms of prize money - only $20,000. However, the American club managed to invite a very solid lineup of participants: they themselves, as well as G2 Esports and Oxygen, whose match we'll talk about below. There was also Moist x Shopify Rebellion, but they have already dropped out, so that's not what we're talking about today.
In the first round of play-offs we will see a match between G2 Esports and Oxygen Esports. We are trying to find out which team will be stronger and will make it to the finals of Sentinels Invitational, where they will face the hosts of the arena - Sentinels.
Let's go.
G2 Esports uniforms
Let's open the match analysis with an analysis of G2 Esports' form. The odds for G2 Esports to win this match are at around 1.85. In fact, we are facing a match of equal teams. At least that is what the bookmakers believe.
This year, G2 Esports are experiencing difficulties on the professional scene. It all started with a failure to qualify for the VCT league for 2023 due to a scandal involving former team manager Ocelote.
Basically, G2 Esports played in Europe until August 2022, after which they relocated to America. While they were in the "Old World" they managed to appear at several top tournaments: VCT 2022 EMEA Stage 1 Challengers, where they finished in the top 2 and VCT 2022: Stage 1 Masters - Reykjavik, where they finished in the top 6.
Later was VCT 2023; EMEA Last Chance Qualifier, which was the last tournament for G2 in Europe. There they finished Top 3 before going on a nearly six-month hiatus and returning to the scene with an American lineup:
- G2 Esports lineup: JonahP, neT, trent, valyn, leaf.
Having renewed the line-up and place of dislocation G2 Esports started to perform on the local scene. With mixed success.
G2 Esports attended 4 tournaments before participating in the Sentinels Invitational Championship Showdown. They were VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Split 1, VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Face Off, Challengers: North America Split 2, and North America Challenger Playoffs.
It didn't turn out too badly at the first split and North America Face Off. There, the team played the Top 3 and Top 2, respectively, and then the performance deteriorated: Top 11 and Top 6.
At the Sentinels Invitational 2023, G2 Esports finished in the top-3. They outlasted Moist x Shopify Rebellion, but lost to both Oxygen and Sentinels.
G2 Esports Mappool
G2 Esports' most favourite map is Fracture. The team played 10 matches on it, of which they won 6.
Next were Ascent and Haven with identical indicators. Both maps were played 9 times and two of them won 5 times each.
The worst situation is on Bind. There the team has 7 matches but only 2 wins.
Form Oxygen Esports
We continue the match analysis with the analysis of Oxygen Esports form. In this match they are on par with G2 Esports: the odds for their victory are also at around 1.85.
Oxygen Esports used to play in Turkey, but decided to change region and went to America. This happened after 2021, because last season Oxygen Esports made their mark at only one B-tier tournament - Knights Arena Freezeout. There, Oxygen finished in the top 4, losing to Shopify Rebellion.
In 2023, after becoming a permanent member of the North American league, Oxygen started playing local tournaments. Over the course of the year, they participated in 6 tournaments, not including the Sentinels Invitational 2023.
Oxygen played at VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Split 1 - Open Qualifier, VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Split 1, VALORANT Challengers 2023: North Face Off, VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Split 2, VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Challenger Playoffs. There was also a Knights Forge Valorant LAN.
- Oxygen Esports roster: mitch, skuba, Verno, Reduxx, dapr
After finishing in the top 4 at the Open Qualifiers, Oxygen finished in the top 6 in the first split of VALORANT Challengers 2023. Next came a series of "average" results: at Face Off, Split 2 and Challenger Playoffs Oxygen took Top 4.
Prior to the Long Sogpeg Sentinels Invitational 2023 Oxygen celebrated a win at the Knights Forge VALORANT LAN Oxygen defeated QoR 2-1.
The Sentinels Invitational 2023 Oxygen Esports themselves are rebounding nicely. They made it through the group with a score of 2-1, entering the play-offs in second place. Their only loss came in a match against the undisputed leaders, Sentinels.
Oxygen Esports Mapple
The most pickable teams are Haven (17 games, 47% wins) and Lotus (15 matches, 67% wins).
More in the pool are Ascent (12 games, 67% wins) and Pearl (10 games, 60% wins).
Among the weak peaks are Fracture (43% wins with 7 matches). Breeze are not playing.
History of head-to-head meetings G2 - Oxygen Esports
Previously, the teams have already managed to play each other in official matches. In 2023, there were 5 such matches, and the score was 3-2 in favour of Oxygen.
Predicted result of G2 Esports vs Oxygen Esports at Sentinels Invitational 2023
In this matchup, I expect an even game from both sides. Both teams are at about the same level. If we talk about the winner, Oxygen look the more logical option, as they played better directly at Sentinels Invitational 2023, but it should not be 0-2.
Bottom line: total +2.5.
