Stuchiu Predictions for TI8 Groups

ti8-groups-valve

Chiu on This’ is a short and regular opinion blast

The International 8 Group Stages have been announced. This year the format is round-robin bo2 with the 18 teams split into 2 different groups. The team that places last is eliminated. So before I give you predictions, I’m going to give you my tier list for what I expect at this TI. It is split into S class, A class, B class, and so on.

The S Class are teams I think are favorites to win the tournament. They are:

  • Virtus.Pro
  • Liquid
  • LGD

The A Class are teams that I think have a shot at winning against the S class teams. This year, the only team I think that qualifies for this is Secret, though VG is arguable.

The B class are the teams that have some kind of flaw and likely won’t win TI, but they could go deep with a good run. A majority of the teams are in this category

  • Fnatic
  • Mineski
  • TNC
  • EG
  • OpTic
  • VG
  • Newbee
  • VGJ.Storm

Then there are the unknown teams that we know little about as they have either recently shuffled or have little to no results throughout the year. As I don’t know much, I can only go on roster strength and speculation, but these are the teams I don’t think have much of a chance beyond upsetting someone else and ruining their day.

  • OG
  • Pain
  • Winstrike
  • Serenity
  • iG
  • VGJ.T

OG were forced to shuffle at the last minute so I can’t believe in them. Pain, Winstrike, Serenity all have potential, but it’s all unquantified potential so I can’t in good faith put them up a class. iG didn’t impress me at all and by the end of the season, neither did VGJ.T.

So using this model, here is how I think the groups will pan out.

Group A

Top 4

  • Liquid
  • LGD
  • EG
  • Fnatic

5-8

  • Mineski
  • OG
  • Winstrike
  • VGJ.Thunder

Shanghai’d (Referring both to the Shanghai Major and the Shanghai Dragons)

  • iG

Group B

Top 4

  • Virtus.Pro
  • Secret
  • VG
  • OpTic

5-8

  • VGJ.Storm
  • Newbee
  • TNC
  • Pain

Shanghai’d

  • Serenity

As for why I picked what I did. I seriously don’t rate iG at all. As for Serenity, I bet on the fact that none of them have experience at the international stage. Everything else follows the lines of the tiers I created.