| Rank |
Logo |
Team |
Comment |
| 1 |
 |
Ninjas in Pyjamas |
Already #1 for me before their excellent performance in the RF, they enter LAN as the unquestionable favorites |
| 2 |
 |
Aurora |
Really tough call to make between the champions of EMEA and APACS, Aurora gets the nod due to the LAN pedigree held by Effect and Hiarka |
| 3 |
 |
Wolves Esports |
Their form is extremely strong, and I'm reminded of the last time we headed into EWC with a Chinese-speaking team led by a young star performing at an excellent level. It's hard to see the region as a whole replicating that event's success, but Wolves has to be a contender to win it all |
| 4 |
 |
Team Falcons |
Finally bumping them down as their disappointing split limps to a close. They've still been quite strong objectively, and it's hard to bet against them when LAN rolls around |
| 5 |
 |
JD Gaming |
A relatively weak regional finals does nothing to undo the incredible split they have had. Floating enters LAN as the best pure fragger in AMER and a top 2 player in that role globally alongside Effect |
| 6 |
 |
S8UL Esports |
Will be exciting to see them on LAN with their pure zone style, but they lack the ceiling of many of the surrounding teams |
| 7 |
 |
Team Vision |
Excellent zone luck in RF, plus a complete collapse late in game 5 that held through the end of the set, limits how far up they can move despite taking a most-points 2nd |
| 8 |
 |
ZETA Division |
Disappointing RF showing (for ZETA, and the region as a whole) bumps them down significantly |
| 9 |
 |
Team Liquid |
Finally showing something impressive after underperforming their (admittedly sky-high) expectations for nearly the entire split |
| 10 |
 |
Shopify Rebellion |
Part of me wonders if we're making a huge mistake by respecting SR so much - they had an excellent split 2 last year, but then got 19th in finals when LAN rolled around. Just as the split draws to an end, they've returned to last year's form, but should that really make us believers? |
| 11 |
 |
VK Gaming |
Decent form entering their EWC title defense following an up and down split |
| 12 |
 |
Virtus.pro |
Prestis ends the split with the second most damage a player has ever had in a PL split. However, his strength on Maggie is countered by the team's struggle without her: an average of 3.3 ppg after Maggie is banned, compared to 10.1 with her available |
| 13 |
 |
AG Global |
By far the biggest surprise of Americas RF, it's tough to figure out what to expect on LAN |
| 14 |
 |
Sentinels |
Weak RF showing brings their PL placement more into line with their PPG over the split |
| 15 |
 |
UNLIMIT |
On the one hand, they have struggled at times this split as their favored edge playstyle took a nosedive globally. On the other hand, their strong result ultimately is a result of smart adaptation to the current meta |
| 16 |
 |
Geekay Esports |
Feels like a chronically unremarkable team |
| 17 |
 |
Alliance |
How many times can I write the same comment? This is just not the Alliance we are used to seeing, and it's foolish to expect everything to work itself out for LAN. Akku is no Effect, and the "advantage" of his comp experience comes with three early exits from LAN |
| 18 |
 |
REJECT |
Euriece's first time qualifying for a LAN also places the team in a very strong spot, but their relative lack of experience is still a concern |
| 19 |
 |
Enter Force.36 |
Obly's return to LAN is one of the biggest storylines going, but the team still has a lot to figure out. My lack of respect for the current crop of APACN squads does nothing to help them |
| 20 |
 |
Rex Regum Qeon |
The EzFlash return has generated nothing but 9th place finishes in the short time they've had. We'll see if the extra month before LAN can lead to improvement, but it wouldn't shock me if they don't figure it out |
| 21 |
 |
For Fun Esports |
Could not be more disappointed with their RF performance, and it really reminds me of how Sinetic looked in the FaZe era. I can't diagnose why they've reverted to these habits, but they had better get back to how they played earlier in the split, and fast |
| 22 |
 |
Gaimin Gladiators |
Zaine's presence is a bit of a wildcard, but this still seems like a weak team. Zaine hasn't gone bottom 10 at a LAN since playing with Gnaske a year and a half ago, but lufka's best result as an IGL is 34th. Something has to give |
| 23 |
 |
PXX |
One of the hardest to read squads, PXX certainly has the talent to make an impact in the finals, but it's not hard to see them disappearing in the Last Chance stage instead |
| 24 |
 |
DINOS |
A true wildcard, and the only Americas squad without a lick of LAN experience, DINOS has the firepower and the unpredicability to leave their mark on this event, if not the capacity to show up in finals (should they somehow manage to qualify) |
| 25 |
 |
Elite EU |
A poor split overall is salvaged with the RF performance, but their inability to close out keeps them from shooting up the leaderboard or the power rankings. Still, hard to leave them off my ballot |
