DreamHack Winter 2018 Preview | Betting Overview
This is it, guys – the last DreamHack Open event of 2018 starts in less than 24 hours! Jonkoping, Sweden, the gorgeous Elmia Convention Center is our go-to location yet again for one of the world’s most charming CSGO series. As always, 8 teams will be competing and if you want to know more about them, more about the tournament itself and perhaps even get some insight on the betting predictions, make sure you read my comprehensive DreamHack Winter 2018 Preview till the end!
DreamHack Winter 2018 Preview | Where to Place Bets?
First things first – if you’re interested in betting on DreamHack Winter 2018, here’s my selection of the best bookies for this particular tournament. I’m a picky guy so I just listed a few of my favorites. Let’s check them out!
- Top US Betting Sites
- SportsBetting.ag
- BetOnline.ag
- Bovada
I took several factors into account when making this list so let me guide you through them real fast:
Quality of available esports bets
High betting odds is what I’m talking about here! If a bookie has huge profit margins it means its betting odds won’t be up to par. Especially when stacked against the best bookies out of the bunch. Needless to say, all 3 options that I’ve listed above have decent (if not great) betting odds for esports matches. Pick either one and I’m sure you won’t end up disappointed!
Quantity of available esports bets
In addition to quality, you should also look for betting websites that feature quantity as one of their main strengths. Quantity as in a huge number of available esports bets that will allow you to create sick multipliers and great potential profits. You know how they say – the more the merrier.
On-Site Experience
If you are having a tough time on a website, chances are you’re never going to visit it again. Am I right? Well, the same goes for esports betting websites too, and especially if we are talking about outright beginners to esports betting. If they find their experience confusing, difficult and not worth their while, they’ll eventually try another website or perhaps even give up esports betting altogether. As far as those 3 bookies from the list above are concerned, you can rest assured they’re all as simple and intuitive as possible!
DreamHack Winter 2018 | Interesting Facts
Now let’s go through the most interesting fact regarding this tournament. Afterward, we will inspect the tournament format too. At the end of the line, you’ll get a chance to see my predictions not just for Outright Winner but for match-specific bets too. So, without further adue, let’s continue with my comprehensive DreamHack Winter 2018 Preview!
Tournament Format
Now that we got those interesting facts out of our way, we’re going to move on to the technicalities. More precisely, we are going to take a closer look at the tournament format so we can better understand the match predictions down below.
First up, it’s important to note DreamHack Winter 2018 is set to be featured as a traditional 2-phase tournament. So, let me continue my DreamHack Winter 2018 Preview by giving you some insight on both tournament phases right down below:
Group Stage
The Group Stage of this year will be pretty much the same as last year’s edition. That means we are up for 10 group stage matches since we are looking at a double-elimination format here with 2 groups, each consisting of 4 teams. 2 teams from each group advance to the Playoffs with Opening and Winners’ Rounds being scheduled for Bo1 and other matches for Bo3 series. Once again, we are looking at a double-elimination system here so there’s some room for errors… but make two in a row and you’re out of the competition.
Here is a quick overview of both groups:
- Group A
- CompLexity Gaming
- Team LDLC.com
- Heroic
- x6tence Galaxy
- Group B
- OpTic Gaming
- ENCE eSports
- G2 Esports
- Bravado Gaming
Playoffs
Playoffs are set to start as soon as the Group Stage ends. The 4 teams will be seeded according to their Group Stage placement. Group A winner will go up against Group B 2nd place team; Group B winner will go up against Group A 2nd place team. At this point in the tournament, we’re looking at a single-elimination bracket with matches being Bo3 series (including the Grand Finals). At the end of it all, the winner takes home the grand prize which amounts to $50,000. Not bat for the last DreamHack Open event in 2018, right?
Which Teams Could Dominate DreamHack Winter 2018?
If we take a closer look at the outright betting odds on most popular esports bookies, we’ll come to a conclusion ENCE is considered as the favorite team to win this. However, I don’t share the same opinion. ENCE might be playing well as a team lately, but they’ve been playing against tier B teams. OpTic, on the other hand, had much tougher opponents but still managed to come out on top every now and then.
K0nfig and cajunb are loving their game at the moment, enjoying a great run of form over the course of last 3 months or so. Let’s not forget about the fact that this tournament is going to be held in Jonkoping, Sweden which is a neighboring country, meaning all these players will feel right at home. At the moment, OpTic Gaming outright winner bets go around +350 which is not a bad deal if you ask me. Certainly better than ENCE on +275…
DreamHack Winter 2018 Group Stage Picks
Group A
compLexity vs X6 Galaxy
compLexity is one of those teams which are always good but never good enough to be among the world’s best. The same goes for their current roster which, despite good form in recent months, hasn’t been impressive at times. The oscillations might not be huge but they’re still noticeable. Luckily for them, I can’t see X6 Galaxy taking this one away. Even though they did a great job during the EU qualifiers, compLexity is in a whole another league for them. For that reason, my choice is to go with a medium bet on compLexity.
LDLC vs Heroic
By comparing the rosters of these two teams, as well as their recent results, we can already assume it’s going to be a close one. In fact, bookies can’t decide either – most of them having the same odds (-120) on both teams. With that being said, I’d probably skip this one if I were you. But then again, if I had to choose, I’d go with LDLC just because of constant roster changes on Heroic’s end.
Group B
OpTic vs Bravado
Anything but a dominant win by OpTic Gaming will be a real surprise. Need I remind you, Bravado Gaming is the lowest ranking team on this tournament with not that brilliant form during the last couple of months. Combine that with recent relocation to North America which must’ve put an extra dose of stress on the players. Even without all that, I just couldn’t see them taking this one away from OpTic. So, considering the match-winner betting odds on OpTic are too low, I’d suggest going with -6.5 handicap which sits at -120 at the moment. Not just a much better return but much more entertaining bet as well!
ENCE vs G2
Just a few days ago, G2 Esports announced they’ll be replacing SmithZz and Ex6TenZ with Lucky and JaCkz. Additionally, they also announced they’ll be signing maLeK as their brand-new team coach, ensuring the end of 2018 and start of 2019 go as smooth as possible. In their Opening Match in Group B, kennyS and the boys will be going up against the favorites ENCE. Even though the Finnish team looks strong (and bookies have it at roughly +150) at the moment, I still give a small advantage to G2 Esports. So, as far as this one is concerned, small to medium bet on G2 seems like a great option since it’s currently sitting at cca +110.
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