Dreamhack Malmo: Team Overview
Dreamhack Malmo sits on the horizon for the top CS:GO teams, with the event starting on 16th April. And with a prize pool of $250,000 – and $100,000 available to the winning team – you can be sure it will be a fiercely contested competition.
The tournament begins with a group stage consisting of four groups of four teams, followed by a playoff stage of quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. Currently there are 11 teams confirmed (eight through invite, three through qualification) with five more to qualify. Let’s take a look at each of the teams who have qualified to date.
Fnatic
Fnatic are riding high after victory at IEM X in Katowice and it’s difficult to argue against them as the favourites for any tournament right now. While they have been shown to be a little vulnerable against EnVyUs and lost on Inferno to Luminosity at IEM, they have otherwise been dominant.
Luminosity
Luminosity are a team that have shown steady improvement over the course of the last few months and finished in 2nd place at IEM X and Dreamhack Leipzig. The all Brazilian squad need to up their game when competing against the other top sides if they are to be considered a true contender though.
Natus Vincere (Na’Vi)
Perhaps Fnatic’s biggest threat, Na’Vi have been there or thereabouts in most recent CS:GO events, finishing in or around the top four, but they did secure victory at Dreamhack Leipzig back in January as well as at the IEM X in San Jose last November. The side is a mixture of Ukrainian, Russian and Slovakian players who will be hoping that Malmo is the place where they can finally dethrone Fnatic.
EnVyUs
IEM was nothing short of a disaster for EnVyUs. The French side generally show promise, having beaten the likes of Fnatic in the past where few others can even put up a fight, but they remain deeply inconsistent. They need a strong performance in Malmo to arrest their decline.
Astralis
One of the newest Counter Strike sides, Astralis is made up of former TSM/Questionmark players and is an all-Danish outfit. They are yet to truly make their mark on the scene, faltering in the latter stages of every competition they enter. Perhaps Malmo is their opportunity to go all the way.
Counter Logic Gaming
North America’s current best hope for CS:GO success, a strong run in the Global eSports Cup ended with a respectable 4th place finish. They predictably struggle to make their mark against the top European sides, especially in high-pressure series, and this will need to change if they are to have success in Sweden.
Virtus.pro
That Virtus.pro’s 5th/6th place finish at IEM can be considered a success is a somewhat damning verdict regarding their recent fall from grace. They have only attended two LAN events in recent months, with their online performances suggesting struggles within the team. Malmo may come too soon for the squad to put up much of a fight.
FaZe Clan
The roster of former G2 Esports players purchased in January, FaZe have yet to trouble the top of the standings at the Majors. Their players seem to have all the tools to compete at a higher level than they currently do, but a difficult group at Malmo could end their hopes prematurely.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Formerly the best CS:GO team in the world before Fnatic’s ascension, the NiP of recent times are something of a shadow of what they once were. Their failure to leave the group stage at IEM could well be replicated at Dreamhack
Tempo Storm
Another Brazilian roster that have shown promise recently, Tempo Storm defeated Cloud 9 to earn their place at Dreamhack. It will be interesting to see how they do against the elite sides in attendance and whether they can finally make their mark at a major tournament.
Team Liquid
Recent roster changes for Liquid saw the arrival of AWPer koosta in February. It’s still under question whether this will help the squad in international competitions, where they have struggled against the top European sides.
Dafabet will be providing competitive odds on Dreamhack Malmo.
