1win and Nemiga meet in the upper-bracket final of the PGL Masters Bucharest Europe Closed Qualifier, with the winner moving one step away from securing a place at the main event. Both teams arrive on long winning runs, but they have taken very different routes to this stage.

1win continue to build momentum

1win have won six matches in a row and opened this qualifier with consecutive 2–0 victories over Nuclear TigeRES and B8.

Their performance against B8 was particularly impressive. They dominated Dust2 13–2 before winning Mirage 13–8, with Ax1Le producing 34 kills and a 1.67 rating across the series.

The current lineup contains plenty of experience. Ax1Le, fame and nafany have competed at the highest level, while ArtFr0st gives the team a strong AWPer. Their individual quality makes 1win dangerous even when their overall structure is not perfect.

However, several of their recent victories have come against weaker opposition. They needed three maps against INFINITE and also dropped maps against HEROIC and SPARTA. Their winning streak deserves respect, but it has not always been as comfortable as the results suggest.

Nemiga have delivered against stronger opposition

Nemiga have taken the more difficult route through the qualifier. They began by beating Inner Circle 2–0 before winning a close three-map series against SINNERS.

The victory over Inner Circle was especially convincing. Nemiga won Anubis 13–10 and then took Ancient 13–7, with every player finishing the series with a rating above 1.00.

Their match against SINNERS was a different test. Nemiga needed overtime to win Nuke 19–17, lost Dust2 and then recovered on the deciding map. That result showed that they can remain composed when a series becomes difficult.

Nemiga have now beaten several respected teams during their recent run, including BIG, Inner Circle and SINNERS. KaiR0N-, khaN and syph0 have all produced important performances, while the rest of the lineup has contributed consistently.

The concern is their busy schedule. Nemiga have played several matches in a short period, and many of their recent victories have required all three maps. That could create fatigue, but it also means they arrive with plenty of competitive rhythm.

The veto points towards three maps

1win have the stronger recent numbers on Dust2, where they dismantled B8 in their previous match. Nemiga have also played the map regularly, but their results have been less convincing.

Nemiga should still have opportunities elsewhere. They have looked strong on Mirage and showed against SINNERS that they are comfortable choosing Nuke. Their recent victory over Inner Circle also demonstrated improvement on Ancient.

The teams have already met recently, with 1win winning 2–0 in August. That result included a comfortable 13–6 victory on Dust2, but Anubis required overtime before 1win eventually won 16–14.

Nemiga appear to be in better form now than they were during that meeting. If 1win take control of Dust2 again, Nemiga should still have enough options to answer on their own selection.

Verdict

1win deserve to be slight favourites after winning six consecutive matches and producing an excellent performance against B8. Their experienced roster and strong Dust2 record give them a clear route to at least one map.

Nemiga have faced the tougher opposition, however, and consecutive victories over Inner Circle and SINNERS show that their recent form is genuine. They have also shown that they can compete with 1win, taking their previous Anubis meeting into overtime.

With both teams carrying momentum and each side likely to find a favourable map in the veto, picking an outright winner is difficult. The better angle is backing the series to reach a deciding third map.

Tip

Over 2.5 maps