FaZe (World rank: #1) vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas (World rank: #7) - 10:30 A.M. ET

Moneyline Odds: FaZe (-230) | Ninjas in Pyjamas (+185)

Map Handicap: FaZe -1.5 (+145) | Ninjas in Pyjamas +1.5 (-175)

  • This is a best-of-three series on LAN for the quarter-finals of PGL Major Antwerp 2022.
  • FaZe - Rating at event: rain 1.20 | broky 1.17 | ropz 1.14 | karrigan 1.09 | Twistzz 1.07
  • FaZe - Rating past three months: broky 1.20 | ropz  1.15 | Twistzz 1.12 | rain 1.10 | karrigan 0.96
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas - Rating at event: Brollan 1.17 | REZ 1.10 | hampus 1.06 | es3tag 1.05 | Plopski 0.96
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas - Rating past three months: REZ 1.21 | Brollan 1.13 | Plopski 1.03 | hampus 1.01 | es3tag 0.96

H2H Data:

  • These rosters have never faced each other. NiP won when these teams last met in 2021, but both rosters have changed since then. 

Map Projections:

Ninjas in Pyjamas removes Dust2

FaZe removes Vertigo

Ninjas in Pyjamas picks Overpass 

FaZe picks Mirage

Ninjas in Pyjamas removes Nuke 

FaZe removes Ancient

Inferno is left over

Prediction/Narrative: FaZe wins 2-0.

FaZe are the number one ranked team in the world, and they are the second highest-rated team at this event with a 1.14 Team Rating, only behind NAVI. FaZe have a 32-16 W/L record with their lineup and they have dominated every step of the way. As for NiP, they have surprised some people by even qualifying for the playoffs, and they currently sit as the fifth highest-rated team at PGL Major Antwerp with a 1.07 Team Rating. Ninjas in Pyjamas have looked solid since adding Brollan but they still have only played 21 maps total with this new lineup. FaZe are the better, more experienced team on paper, and I think that should be enough to carry them to a win in this crucial spot.

FaZe have managed at least a 50% win rate on every map in the pool, even their permaban, Vertigo. They have a lot of strong options for their map pick, and Mirage or Inferno seem like great options. Mirage would probably be best here considering NiP have a 1-2 W/L record on that map, including a 1-16 loss to Astralis, though they did somehow beat NAVI. As for NiP, they will likely go for a map like Overpass, where they have won three in a row. The only issue with Overpass is that it is also a good map for FaZe, who have won four of their last six on Overpass with the only two losses coming against ENCE. FaZe’s map pool just seems to be too deep for NiP to get past in a best-of-three. I have FaZe sweeping here, but perhaps if NiP continue their good form, then they could steal a map, like Overpass. Still, FaZe should advance to the semi-finals in this spot.

  • rain is currently the eighth highest-rated player at PGL Major Antwerp with a 1.20 Rating across six maps played.
  • On Overpass, rain leads FaZe with a 1.30 Rating, while broky leads with a 1.39 K/D ratio across six maps played in the past three months.
  • On Mirage, ropz leads FaZe with a 1.11 Rating and 1.21 K/D ratio across 10 maps played in the past three months.
  • On Inferno, broky leads FaZe with a 1.24 Rating and 1.36 K/D ratio across nine maps played in the past three months.

Favorite Draftkings Plays (In order of priority): 

broky ($11,800) | ropz ($11,000) | rain ($8,800) | Twistzz ($10,400) | es3tag ($6,200) | Brollan ($9,200) | REZ ($10,000) | hampus ($7,000) | karrigan ($7,600) | Plopski ($8,000)