Banner image: Ubisoft / @ericananmalay
After 10 days of closed doors action, we are finally headed to the main stage of the Six Invitational 2023 at Place Bell. With only six teams remaining, we will have a new world champion crowned by the end of Sunday. Who's it going to be this time?
Oxygen Esports vs. w7m esports
Oxygen Esports and w7m esports will feature in the final match of the day as the winner will advance to the Six Invitational 2023 grand-final.
Both teams finished in third place in their respective groups after losing the final match of the group stage. However, despite struggling in the initial stage of the competition, both rosters looked incredible so far.
To get here, Oxygen defeated three European sides, including Heroic, MNM Gaming, and Wolves Esports. Meanwhile, w7m defeated the Jönköping Major champions Team BDS, the North American League side M80, and the Berlin Major champions, KOI.
Ethan "Nuers" James heads into this clash as the best-rated player of the competition with a SiegeGG Rating of 1.27. Meanwhile for w7m, their best players are Gabriel "HerdsZ" Herdina and Gabriel "volpz" Fernandes, who both have SiegeGG Ratings of 1.16.
Oxygen have struggled the whole season when playing against Brazilian teams, with their only victories coming against Team oNe at the Charlotte Major, when the Latin American squad was playing from Mexico.
In Berlin, they lost by 7-4, 7-1 scores against w7m esports. Meanwhile, at the Six Invitational 2023, thet lost to LOS oNe in the last match of the group stage in 0-2 fashion.
On the other hand, w7m's record against North America is great, as they have only lost two maps out of 11 against NA teams.
It's worth mentioning both teams' entry balances, with w7m having the upper hand here -- 115-74 (+41) to Oxygen's 102-102 (0). It will also be a clash between the two best defuser carrier in the competition -- Mitch "Dream" Malson, with 27 plants for Oxygen, against Julio "JULIO" Giacomelli, with 23 plants for w7m.
The game has all the ingredients to be an incredible match. It will not only be your usual Brazil vs. North America clash, but we also have to add Mitch "Dream" Malson's comments about w7m esports throughout the last month.
In an interview with Jacob "CaliberJacob" Anderson, the player compared w7m esports to the Arial Arise Academy that pushed Oxygen to the fifth map of their series in the grand final of the SCS Season 7.
Wolves Esports vs. G2 Esports
Wolves Esports and G2 Esports will meet in the first game of the lower bracket, as both rosters will play for the chance to finish among the top four teams in the world.
The French-majority squad defeated G2 in the first match of the upper bracket by 2-0 after winning on Chalet and Kafe in maximum overtime. Since then, Wolves defeated LOS oNe, but lost to Oxygen Esports.
Bastien "BiBooAF" Dulac and Dahmani "Mowwwgli" Yanis have been the best players on Wolves, leading the team in practically all of their victories at the Six Invitational 2023.
However, G2 are in great shape following victories against FaZe Clan, DarkZero Esports, and M80. The Fabian "Fabian" Hällsten-led team has got the momentum that is required to perform a deep run in a lower bracket and lookz ready to at least make it to the next stage.
Of course, Wolves will not make it easy for their fellow Europeans. Fabian will look forward to adding a third hammer to his trophy cabinet, which would make him the first person to win it as a player and as a coach. To do that, he first must win against Wolves Esports and the winner of the match between Astralis and KOI.
Astralis vs. KOI
Astralis and KOI will play in the final match of the lower bracket quarter-finals. The Charlotte Major grand-finalists will play against the Six Berlin Major champions, who were dealt a very one-sided defeat against w7m esports just two days ago.
It's not the first time at the Six Invitational 2023 that Astralis face Major champions, as the Americans defeated Team BDS just two days ago after a very close three-map series.
While the Frenchmen had far superior SiegeGG Ratings in the match, the American lineup won the match even though none on their squad got a positive rating. BDS's sloppiness at closing rounds saw Astralis complete nine clutches.
Astralis also have the second-highest number of maps played at 20 and are only surpassed by Team BDS's tally of 24. On the other hand, KOI have only played 13 maps and have not been pushed like Astralis have.
All eyes will be on William "Spoit" Löfstedt as the Berlin Major MVP heads into today's match as KOI's best player with a SiegeGG Rating of 1.17.