On May 13th at 14:00 EEST, FURIA Esports will compete against Monte in the first round of the Legends stage at BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023. In an exclusive comment for Cover.gg, Oleksandr Shoker Osheka named Monte as the favorite for the match.
Form
FURIA secured the first place in the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: American RMR, which allowed them to directly enter the Legends stage. Over the past few weeks, the team led by Andrei arT Piovezan has been focused on training and resting. The last tournament for the Brazilian team was IEM Rio 2023 in mid-April, where they finished in 5th-6th place. The extent of FURIA's preparation for the Major remains a mystery, but we will find out the answer tomorrow.
I think this three-week break won't particularly benefit FURIA. They are not the type of team that immediately jumps into a tournament on a high note. Nevertheless, the Brazilians are a very dangerous opponent. I'm still concerned about the form of the young player drop, as he often underperforms in games. Overall, I expect them to reach the Legends stage but cause some nerve-wracking moments for many teams.Oleksandr Shoker Osheka
Monte approaches the match in an elevated mood, as Vladimir Woro2k Veletniuk's team successfully overcame the challenges of the Challengers stage and is ready to demonstrate everything they are capable of in the next stage of the championship. On their way, Monte defeated Fluxo, The Mongolz, and paiN Gaming. Despite some losses, the Ukrainian team showcased a decent level of CS against FaZe Clan and FORZE. Yes, they are facing a very tough opponent now, but who said it would be easy?
An advantage for the Ukrainian team is the fact that Viktor sdy Orudjev is performing well in the IGL role and has been showing incredible shooting skills, winning clutch situations more often. This whole situation seems like Orudjev has finally found his team, where he is trusted. On the downside, Monte invested a lot of emotions in the Challengers stage and might simply run out of steam for the Legends.
The guys from Monte are really talented. Honestly, I expected them to win against FaZe. Perhaps a victory over FaZe would have given the Ukrainian team more confidence in their game. But the fact that the team managed to come back from a 1-2 score and reach the Legends stage is admirable. They have been playing together in this lineup for only six months, and they have achieved such a result. Sergey LMBT is proud of the guys, and if he were at the Major, I believe they could have avoided many situations and rounds lost due to unfortunate circumstances.Oleksandr Shoker Osheka
Possible map pool
If we look at the map pool of both teams, two things can be observed: first, there will definitely be no Inferno and Overpass in this matchup; second, the win percentage on four out of the remaining five maps is higher for Monte. Yes, FURIA often faces stronger opponents compared to Monte, as the Ukrainian club is still making its way into the tier-1 Counter-Strike scene.
Most likely, the teams will come down to Mirage, which is performed well by both teams. Yes, Monte has a slightly higher win rate on Mirage, but we should not forget that this location is one of the best for the Brazilians as well.
Prediction from Shoker
I believe Monte can defeat and surprise the Brazilians. Our guys have already immersed themselves in the tournament, experiencing a lot of emotions. Meanwhile, the Brazilians are just getting started. Additionally, despite the absence of coaches by their side, LMBT and their analyst KrizzeN put in a lot of work before the games. I'm confident that they will have a fantastic game plan. As for the maps, I expect to see Ancient or Mirage. On either of those maps, Monte can put up a fight, but they need to get a good start. And of course, BOROS must fully unleash his potential; it will be very challenging without his presence on the server.Oleksandr Shoker Osheka
The BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 is taking place from May 8th to May 21st in France. The teams are competing for a prize pool of $1.25 million. The major champion will also secure slots for IEM Cologne 2023 and BLAST Premier: World Final 2023. You can follow the tournament schedule and results at the link.
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