00NATION and The Guard will meet on day two of the VALORANT Challengers Ascension 2023: Americas group stage. The Brazilian squad has already competed in this championship and even outplayed 9z while The Guard rested.
And that's where The International is the odds-on favorite because 00NATION objectively do not look like the favourites in their group. What's more, it's the North American squad that's a contender for the top spot so far.
In general, we'll see, but it seems to me that if 00NATION is able to fight, it won't be able to take more than one place. So here I'd be rooting for The Guard team to win.
00NATION form
The fifth team in the Brazilian rankings didn't show much at VALORANT Challengers 2023: Brazil Split 1 and failed completely in the championship, finishing seventh in the end.
However, the Brazilian side finished second in VALORANT Challengers 2023: Brazil Split 2 and picked up enough points to advance to Ascension.
As for Long Congo in the group stage of VALORANT Challengers Ascension 2023: Americas, 00NATION came through with a comfortable win over 9z but the Latin Americans are a priori outsiders.
Recent results for 00NATION:
- A 2-0 win over Keyd Stars.
- A 0-2 loss to The Union.
- 2-1 win over ODDIK.
- 0-3 defeat for The Union.
- Beat 9z 2-0.
Top 00NATION scores:
- Lotus - 67% wins.
- Haven - 64% wins.
- Pearl - 63% of wins.
- Fracture - 56% of wins.
- Split - 50% wins.
It should not be forgotten that the Brazilian team usually gives up Bind.
The Guard uniforms
The fifth team in the North American rankings won the Ludwig x Tarik Invitational back in the season and even finished second at the VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Split 1.
On top of that, The Guard had been playing consistently strong for months, taking bronze at the Mid-Season Face Off and finishing second again at VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Split 2.
The North American squad recently reached the final of the VALORANT Challengers 2023: North America Challenger Playoffs, where they were defeated by M80 Esports.
The Guard's latest results:
- A 0-2 defeat to Moist Moguls.
- A 2-0 win over G2 Esports.
- A 2-0 win over Oxygen Esports.
- 3-0 win over Moist Moguls.
- A 1-3 defeat to M80 Esports.
The Guard's best scores:
- Ascent - 90% wins.
- Fracture - 83% wins.
- Lotus - 80% wins.
- Bind - 80% wins.
- Split - 60% wins.
- Pearl - 50% wins.
- Haven - 50% wins.
In turn, the North American squad has most often given up on Pearl.
00NATION - The Guard match statistics
The teams have not met before.
Forecast for 00NATION - The Guard
In general, the Brazilian team can really surprise. However, The Guard clearly looked at the opponent the day before, and objectively the North Americans are stronger in every sense.
In general, it makes sense to take a closer look at 00NATION, which has already recorded a victory in this championship. But for now the North American team looks the obvious option.
Therefore, in this case, I would recommend betting on a win for The Guard.
