Natus Vincere vs Fnatic

NAVI come in 2-0 with their wins against Heretics and Vitality, and that’s an early statement for a roster that had many people doubting them coming in the season. Fnatic are 1-1 – they handled Los Ratones, then got humbled by SK.

Matchup-wise, NAVI’s safest path is the same: get mid control early, keep the game moving in a fast pace so Fnatic can’t settle into clean setups later. Fnatic will want this game on the calmer side – don’t let the map explode, let Razork manage the early game, and set the game up for Upset later.

Right now, NAVI are looking a bit sharper and more decisive in the messy parts of the game, and Bo1’s love that.

Prediction: Natus Vincere.

Team Vitality vs Karmine Corp Blue

Vitality sit at 1-1 after beating SK and losing to NAVI. Karmine Corp Blue are also 1-1, losing to their main KC roster, and then beating the Ratones.

This one should be about how fast can KCB play the map early to mid game against Vitality, who likes things controlled. Now with Humanoid in the midlane, Vitality are happy keeping the laning phase stable and let fights happen on their terms, not because some random river brawls. KCB have shown in the first two games that they can keep pace, but this one is their real test against structure and late-game discipline. If Vitality don’t give in to the early chaos, they should close this one clean.

Prediction: Team Vitality, comfortably.

Team Heretics vs GIANTX

Heretics are 0-2 after losses to NAVI and Shifters, and their biggest struggle is turning early plays/plans into clean midgame control. GIANTX come in 2-0, taking down Shifters, and then man-handling the favorites – G2.

This matchup is a bit rough for Heretics, because GIANTX don’t give away many freebies. They’re comfortable playing the slow game, trading objectives with care, and waiting for the other team to make the first mistake – which Heretics often do. Heretics are absolutely able to scrap, but if their transitions stay shaky like in their previous games, GIANTX will take control of the map piece by piece.

Heretics need a lot cleaner early game than what they’ve shown so far in order to have a chance to stay in the game against GIANTX – but I don’t really see it happening today.

Prediction: GIANTX.

Shifters vs Movistar KOI

Shifters are 1-1, beating Heretics, and losing to GIANTX after blowing a “naked Nexus” advantage and awful late minute decisions. KOI are 2-0 with wins over G2 and KC – as strong a start as you can ask for.

This matchup’s dynamic is pretty clear: Shifter will want to set the tempo and actually get to play the game first. But the thing is, KOI are fine with that – because if Shifters’ timing is even slightly off, they are able to punish hard and snowball with fights around objectives, as they did in the first two games.

Shifters can make this competitive if they keep it controlled, but KOI’s early decision-making looked way more consistent, which matters a lot in a Bo1 scenario.

Prediction: Movistar KOI.

Los Ratones vs Karmine Corp

Los Ratones are 0-2 (Fnatic, then KCB), and “being hopeless” is not the problem, but Bo1s punishes every overextension, and LR’s playstyle naturally tilts that way, kind of. Karmine Corp are 1-1, stomping KCB, then lost to MKOI.

KC are the favorites here, because they’re a lot more reliable at closing games if they get an advantage. I’m not saying Los Ratones can steal this if they draft comfort picks, and keep Nemesis enabled. But the longer the game stays standard, the worse it will get for LR.

Prediction: Karmine Corp.

SK Gaming vs G2 Esports

This one will be interesting to watch, because G2 are 0-2 after losing to KOI and GIANTX, and I don’t think that anyone expected for G2 to come in 2026 looking so shaky. SK are 1-1, losing to Vitality, but beating Fnatic – so they’ve already shown they can punch above their weight.

New-look teams like SK always have clear win conditions: force early game into fights and keep it scrappy – an approach that can spike hard in Bo1s, especially against stronger opponents like G2. In contrast of that, G2’s win condition is getting the game to the mid/late game decision-making, where they’re usually “out-mapping” teams.

SK can absolutely make this ugly, but the fact that G2 is already two losses in, and cannot afford another loose start, tilts my bet a lot harder towards them getting on the board, finally.

Prediction: G2 Esports.