Welcome back to EGamersWorld.
We are still watching IEM Cologne 2023, where the Play-In stage is coming to a close. We're looking forward to another group stage match between Ninjas in Pyjamas and Imperial.
The format of the match is Bo3. It's pretty simple: the winner goes to the play-offs, and the loser finishes in Cologne without reaching the Cologne groups.
Let's take a look at the playing form of the two teams, and at the same time analyse who deserves to qualify for the next stage.
Let's go.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Let's start the analysis of the match by analysing the Ninjas in Pyjamas' form. In this match, they'll be playing the first number one.
It is not difficult to believe in the Swedes' advantage. The team showed a pretty good game before the Long Cologne 2023 IEM Cologne, but at the tournament itself, the success so far so poor.
If in the first half of the year NiP were remembered only for getting to the Paris Major 2023 after 7th place at the European RMR B, and then top 8-11 at the Paris tournament itself. It got better after coming out of the competition break.
NiP lost to Last Change Qualifiers at Gamers8 on the Long Crest of the second half of the year, but then played solidly at BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2023. They managed to reach the Autumn Finals quite easily, beating grands like Vitality.
- NiP lineup: REZ, hampus, Brollan, headtr1ck, k0nfig.
NiP are approaching IEM Cologne 2023 in full readiness. Before the tournament, the team did not make any substitutions. This will clearly play to the Swedish club's advantage.
In the first round of the Play-In IEM Cologne 2023 Ninjas in Pyjamas met Into The Breach. The match ended in NiP's easiest outing at Ancient with a score of 16-5.
In the match to advance to the group stage of IEM Cologne 2023 NiP played against MOUZ. The mice beat the Swedes on class, giving them 19 rounds in two maps.
Map Ninjas in Pyjamas
The top 1 map Ninjas in Pyjamas for the last 3 months is Mirage. Ninjas in Pyjamas has a mind-blowing winrate of 92% with 13 games played.
They also played Inferno where they won 5 matches out of 7 games. Nuke is also in plus winrate, where the "ninjas" have 3 wins from 5 matches.
The most not favoured card for NiP will be Vertigo. NiP has 6 cards and only 1 win.
Form Imperial
Let's continue the match analysis with the analysis of Imperial's form. The Brazilian club will have to play as the number two.
The gap is clear. Imperial were not too vigorous during the season, and at the IEM Cologne 2023 the team has problems, otherwise they would not play in the lower grid.
The World 16 team spent the first half of the year at various qualifying events and TIR-2 tournaments. Some rare results include a win at the TG Masters Spring 2023 local championship. We can also mention the failure at EPL Season 17, where Imperial finished in the top 32.
Imperial's main Milestone was the performance at American RMR B, a qualifier for BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023. There, the Brazilian club finished in the top-12. Later there was a disappointing IEM Masters Rio 2023 and top-16 there.
- Imperial line-up: HEN1, boltz, felps, VINI, JOTA.
Prior to the IEM Cologne 2023 Long Convergence, Imperial won the ESL Brazil Premier League Season 14 and also finished in the top 4 at BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2023.
On top of that, Imperial have invited felps and HEN1 to join the team. The team's rookies lost their debut match at the club. They were run over by Monte, who won at Nuke 16-9.
In the next match Imperial faced Greyhound and it was quite a tough match. The Australians managed to pick up a card but lost on the deciding card, crashing out of the tournament.
Imperial Mappool
The best maps of Imperial are Ancient and Inferno. The former has 3 wins in 4 maps and the latter has 5 wins out of 7.
Don't mind playing Overpass either, where Brazilians have 57% wins in 7 maps. Can also play Nuke with Vertigo, where they have 50% wins at 6 and 4 mapx respectively.
Do not play on Anubis.
Head-to-head history
During the season they crossed paths at IEM Brazil Rio 2023. NiP won bo1 with a score of 16-5.
NiP's predicted result at IEM Cologne 2023: Play-In
Despite NiP's failure in the top set, I still believe in the Swedes' passage. The opponent is, quite frankly, passable and they need to take advantage of that.
Bottom line: NiP win.
