EU Showdown qual #1 preview: "Saw are favourites in RTP Arena Cup"
With Fall Groups behind us and Fall Final just a couple of months away, it’s time to decide the final few teams who will be in attendance at the Fall Showdowns.
ENCE recently received an invite to the European Showdown, joining the likes of G2, OG, and BIG, who all fell down from Fall Groups.
The final four spaces will be taken up by the winners of RES Western European Masters, Pelaajat Nordic Masters, RES Eastern European Masters, and the RTP Arena Cup.
An Iberian qualifier event, it’s the RTP Arena Cup we want to focus on now.
Photo: Michal KonkolRTP Arena Cup
Featuring Iberian juggernauts like Movistar Riders and SAW, the Spanish and Portuguese teams attending the event will have their work cut out for them if they wish to get past the two biggest teams in their region.
The other teams in attendance are FTW, Los Alpacas, Rhyno Esports, FALKE, CamaroPeek, and n00org.
With many of these teams being relative unknowns for fans of tier one Counter-Strike, we spoke to tier-two expert GrimyRannarr, household commentator at CCT, to get his opinion on who both the favourite and underdog will be.
Who is the favourite to win RTP Arena Cup?
Coming into the Summer player break, SAW looked like a real force to be reckoned with. With four tournaments won both Internationally and within Iberia and with their star AWPer Story on fire.
SAW just needs to make sure they can replicate that same level of success, and this is a prime opportunity for them. Even Movistar, straight off the back of a strong Group Stage at Pro League, will have a tough time against the Portuguese giants.
Who is the underdog team they should be fearful of?
FTW have been so close to success on so many occasions, but consistently their star players have been nabbed by SAW. We know they can create good rosters and find these star players.
Building the roster back around their AWPer stadodo who has played at an RMR, there is definitely room for them to cause an upset to their older brothers in the scene.
With SAW and Movistar Riders beginning the event in opposite groups, they’re both primed to reach the final to battle it out for the Showdown spot. That being said, with FTW in the same group as Movistar Riders, the Spaniards will have to be careful and upset win doesn’t see them face their Portuguese rivals sooner than they’d like to.
You can keep up with all the action here: https://www.twitch.tv/BLASTtv
