DraftKings CS:GO Thursday Cheat Sheet

Games (EDT)

• 11:55 a.m: BIG Clan (BIG) vs. FaZe Clan (FaZe)
• 12:00 p.m: OG (OG) vs. Heretics (HER)
• 3:00 p.m: FURIA (FUR) vs. Evil Geniuses (EG)
• 6:00 p.m: Cloud9 (C9) vs. Gen.G (GenG)

BIG Clan vs. FaZe Clan

cs_summit6 opens Thursday's slate with a match that has been a staple of the last two months between BIG Clan and FaZe Clan. BIG Clan come into the match as one of the most in-form teams in the world, with tabseN and syrsoN proving to be far too much for teams to handle. FaZe Clan are a strange side to rate; on their day this star-studded lineup can beat anyone, but off form they struggle against even second-tier competition. This match is nearly impossible to split, and the map veto is likely to be consistent and relatively neutral, featuring Inferno, Nuke, Train and Mirage. Those four maps cover the last four meetings and 10 maps between these two sides, the only questions seems to be whether the decider will end up on Train or Mirage. The teams are relatively even, but the last six maps have all gone the way of the Germans, and it seems unlikely for that to change as they head into cs_summit6. 

Prediction: 2-1 BIG Clan

• BIG Players to Target: syrsoN ($12,900 Captain, $8,600 Flex), tabseN ($11,400 Captain, $7,600 Flex)
• FaZe Players to Target: NiKo ($14,100 Captain, $9,400 Flex)

OG vs. Heretics

The second match of the day is another one separated by almost nothing, featuring a struggling OG and a Heretics side that has been attempting to establish itself in the top tier of CS:GO. Few matches feature such a showdown between experience and youth, veteran guile and youthful innovation, and Thursday's match should be one of the most interesting of the tournament. Heretics, bolstered by young superstars Maka and Nivera, can truly beat any team in the world, and they have some of the most youthful firepower. OG feature a mix of veteran guile and innovation, whether it's NBK- or Aleksib, who have lead teams to the very top of the rankings, or mantuu and valde, who constantly innovate their aggressive play style. This clash of experience and exuberance is likely to end up on Mirage and Dust2, with Inferno a likely decider as the most neutral map in the map pool. The last time these sides met it was a swift 2-0 for Heretics, and despite how close this match looks to be, Heretics could have the form and skill to overpower OG once more.

Prediction: 2-1 Heretics

• OG Players to Target: valde ($12,000 Captain, $8,000 Flex)
• HER Players to Target: Maka ($15,300 Captain, $10,200 Flex), Nivera ($11,100 Captain, $7,400 Flex)

FURIA vs. Evil Geniuses

The third match heads over to North America, with the showdown between the best two teams in the region. FURIA come into the match in questionable form, unable to complete a lower-bracket run in BLAST Spring, losing to both EG and MiBR. This is a match that would have looked one-sided towards FURIA, but following a 2-1 victory for EG, showing their good form against FURIA is far from a fluke. The veto between these two teams is quite variable, though both have favored Vertigo, Inferno and Train in recent months. If FURIA want to turn around their abysmal form against Evil Geniuses they will look towards their two rifling superstars, yuurih and KSCERATO, to lead the charge. If Evil Geniuses want to extend on their 17-4 record against FURIA then they will need consistency across the board -- EG has struggled for star power, but on a match where their entire team is playing at their best they are a multi-faceted threat. Though FURIA are the slight favorites, and higher ranked, it's hard to look past the form and history of EG.

Prediction: 2-1 Evil Geniuses

• FUR Players to Target: arT ($9,300 Captain, $6,200 Flex)
• EG Players to Target: CeRq ($10,800 Captain, $7,200 Flex), Brehze ($10,500 Captain, $7,000 Flex)

Cloud9 vs. Gen.G

The final match is an interesting North American showdown between two sides that have been looking to rise up the ranks in North America. Cloud9 come in after waltzing through the qualifier, taking down Yeah and New England Whalers, both 2-0. Gen.G didn't have to play in the open qualifiers, but perhaps the opportunity to turn around their form would have benefited the international side that has won one of their last five matches, and dropped their last three in a row. This is a match that should be decided by two duo's: the Cloud9 side of floppy and oSee, who have shown that they can hang with anyone in the world of Counter-Strike, mixing AWPing and rifling with a very fluid play style, while Gen.G put forward autimatic and koosta, a similarly high-powered duo, and one that is tested at the very highest level of competition, with both players having experience deep in majors. The veto in this match is truly up in the air, with the only certainties being Cloud9 banning Mirage and Gen.G banning Overpass; otherwise, the field is open and both teams will look for advantages from their deep map pools. This match is nearly impossible to split and should be the tightest of the day unless one of these superstars from either side absolutely pops off.

Prediction: 2-1 Gen.G

• C9 Players to Target: floppy ($12,600 Captain, $8,400 Flex)
• Gen.G Players to Target: autimatic ($10,800 Captain, $7,200 Flex), BnTeT ($10,200 Captain, $6,800 Flex)