DraftKings CS:GO Monday Cheat Sheet

Games (EDT)

• LOOT.BET 7:15 a.m: SKADE (SKA) vs. PACT (PCT)
• LOOT.BET 10:00 a.m: Apeks (APK) vs. Nemiga (NEM)
• BLAST 10:30 a.m: Vitality (VIT) vs. G2 Esports (G2)
• BLAST 1:15 p.m: ENCE (E) vs. FaZe Clan (FaZe)

SKADE (0-1) vs. PACT (0-1)

The first match of Monday's four-game European slate is in LOOT.BET Season 7, featuring the Polish side of PACT and the Bulgarian men of SKADE in a Swiss style round 2 0-1 game. Both teams are fresh off a defeat, PACT 0-2 to Apeks, SKADE 2-1 to ALTERNATE aTTaX, though Pact went on to take down team Secret in cs_summit6 qualifiers Sunday. PACT come into this match as the favorites, and the map pool shows why, PACT have the advantage over SKADE on every map except their permaban, Mirage. If SKADE want to pull off the upset it will bee off the back of an exceptional showing from Rainwaker or dennyslaw, otherwise PACT should have far too much firepower for the Bulgarian side to handle. The value in this match could come from SKADE's depth if they do pull off the upset, especially from Duplicate, bearing in mind how volatile non top-tier CS:GO is, this match could surpass the later BLAST matches in value. 

Prediction: PACT 2-1

• SKA Players to Target: Duplicate ($10,200 Captain, $6,800 Flex)
• PCT Players to Target: Sobol ($12,900 Captain, $8,600 Flex)

Apeks (1-0) vs. Nemiga (1-0)

The second match of the slate is the final match of the slate from LOOT.BET, this time a round 2 winners match featuring Apeks and Nemiga, both looking to move to a strong 2-0 start in the Swiss style round-robin. Nemiga and Apeks both 2-0'd their opening foes, FATE and PACT, respectively, with both sides looking confident top to bottom. Nemiga come into Monday's match as huge favorites, and they should have more than enough to take down the Norwegian side of Apeks. Between the firepower of lollipop21k and speed4k, as well as an identical map pool that Nemiga have the advantage on, in every map Nemiga should be able to dispatch Apeks comfortably. The value in this match is likely to come from the Nemiga side, with how mismatched lower level matches can end up being some of the biggest performances of the day could come from the Nemiga side. If Apeks want to pull off the upset, look towards a vintage performance from dennis, who has shown in the past that he can be one of the top player in the game.

Prediction: Nemiga 2-0

• APK Players to Target: dennis ($7,200 Captain, $4,800 Flex)
• NEM Players to Target: lollipop21k ($10,800 Captain, $7,200 Flex), speed4k ($10,800 Captain, $7,200 Flex)

G2 Esports vs. Vitality

The third match of the day stays in Europe but heads to BLAST Spring where G2 Esports fresh off another grand final defeat, this time 3-1 to BIG Clan, look to bounce back against the other top French side, Vitality. This match looks to be the closest of the day, and on recent form it's nearly impossible to split these two sides, both teams offer massive firepower, but both also have a supporting core that can fall off the face of the earth during a match. The map pool in this match should favor G2, especially if they can avoid Vitality's undefeated Vertigo, a map that Vitality rarely pick themselves. With Train and Overpass likely to be banned, G2 will favor any match on Mirage, Nuke or Inferno maps where they can work to shut down the indomitable ZywOo. Vitality will look for the opposite, with Dust2 and Vertigo being the two maps they boast an advantage on, two maps where ZywOo can take over and control a match. A huge x-factor in Monday's match could be the mental fatigue that G2 are facing, they have been playing nearly non-stop for the last month, and are playing less than 24 hours after another soul-crushing grand final defeat. A well-rested Vitality side should offer the value on Monday, especially when the best player in the world, ZywOo, is available. 

Prediction: Vitality 2-1

• G2 Players to Target: huNter- ($11,100 Captain, $7,400 Flex), jaCkz ($9,300 Captain, $6,200 Flex)
• VIT Players to Target: ZywOo ($13,500 Captain, $9,000 Flex), shox ($10,200 Captain, $6,800 Flex)

ENCE vs. FaZe Clan

The final match of the slate is another closely-matched showdown, and perhaps the most star-studded of the day. ENCE, the Finnish side that had been in a horrible rut since losing in-game leader aleksib, has seemingly recovered form with the addition of superstar prospect Jamppi, who has given the side a strong secondary AWP as well as rifle. ENCE come into the match on a two-match winning streak after securing the top spot in the BLAST Spring qualifier over mousesports and MAD Lions, while also boasting a seven map undefeated streak. FaZe on the other hand are in more mixed form since their addition of a young prospect, Bymas. FaZe Clan have dropped three of their last five, including going 0-4 in two best-of-three's against BIG Clan to fall out of DreamHack Masters Spring. This match is nearly even, and a lot of that comes down to the young volatile stars on both sides, namely broky, Bymas, Jamppi and Sergej, who can all have a map that they take control of alone, or have a best of-three where they end below 10 kills. Monday's map veto should be crucial, both teams ban Vertigo, and both have three maps they are favored on. FaZe Clan will lean towards Dust2, Mirage and Inferno, with impressive 77% win rate on both Mirage and Dust 2, where their star-filled lineup can take over the match. The Finnish side prefer Nuke, Train and Overpass, maps where their coordination and superstar AWPers of allu and Jamppi have the long sight lines and large maps needed to take control. The value in this series is likely to come from the veteran cores that are built around these young prodigies, especially NiKo and allu, two superstars in their own right, who produce some of the most consistent high-level performances in the world of CS:GO.

Prediction: ENCE 2-1 

• E Players to Target: allu ($12,000 Captain, $8,000 Flex), Jamppi ($9,300 Captain, $6,200 Flex)
• FaZe Players to Target: NiKo ($13,200 Captain, $8,800 Flex), broky ($10,800 Captain, $7,200 Flex)