The lucrative eSports markets close to home - League of Legends, and our tournaments to follow this weekend
With more viewers than major sporting events, it's fair to say eSports are quickly becoming one of the most profitable emerging markets you can follow. With games such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Hearthstone, Starcraft and Counter-strike offering multi-million dollar prizes, the industry is rapidly cementing itself as a leader in modern sporting events, and completely revolutionising how we watch events.
With more and more money being poured into the market, higher paying tournaments occur more frequently, and can be quite lucrative for the keen-eyed follower. Moving forward, Before You Bet will be providing more regular eSports articles that break down what is currently going on where, our predictions for matches, and where you can get more involved in the action. This week, we will take a look at League of Legends in particular, and which tournaments our team of experts recommend keeping an eye on. With the Asian and Oceanic regions close to home, we will break down the major ones going on at the moment, and what our team think will happen in two of the most lucrative tournaments in the world.
League of Legends
With one of the largest player bases in the world, League of Legends is at the forefront of eSports, and often setting trends for other games. With prize pools exceeding AU$10 million, you can guarantee it is an action-packed game worth following. With familiar teams such as Fnatic, SK Telecom T1, Chiefs eSports and more, it is proving time and time again just how competitive it is, and how much it is constantly evolving the world of betting.
Where can I watch these tournaments?
For those who are unsure, https://www.twitch.tv is the home of eSports streaming, including casters, analysts, and live streams that are unmatched. Most major tournaments will often have streams on there, but check tournament websites for more details, or follow the tournaments on facebook and twitter to stay up to date with streaming links.
What's happening with League of Legends this week around us?
At present, there is a huge amount of action happening in most regions, including Oceania, Asia, Europe and North America. With tournaments such as the LCK, OPL and NA LCS currently in play, it can be quite overwhelming to follow it all, and which ones are worth following. With the final weeks to qualify for playoffs, here are the tournaments we are keeping an eye on this week:
Oceania (Australia/New Zealand)
Oceanic Pro League, Sydney, Australia (OPL)
As it stands, we are currently entering into week 9 of a 12 week tournament in the Oceanic Pro League. With familiar names such as Chiefs eSports, Dire Wolves and Tainted Minds, it's the cream of the crop from Australia and New Zealand, and the games are often nail biting to watch, where nothing is set in stone. While controversies have sometimes dominated the competitive gaming scene around Oceania, this year is proving just how successful a bit of organisation can be, and opening up the markets for some very successful betting if you know what to look for. With 4 hugely important matches going on this weekend, here is our quick snapshot of each.
Game #1 - Avant Garde vs Legacy eSports (15:00 AEST 25/3/2017)
With two older names on the scene, this game will be a great one to watch. With Legacy and Avant Garde sitting at #3 and #4 respectively, you can expect a very close match here, with a lot on the line for both teams. Sporting a relatively new line-up, Legacy eSports are going from strength to strength. With a loss to SIN gaming last week, expect them to come back heavily and be out for blood. Last time these two met, Legacy dominated 2-0, and we expect them to keep the same pressure on Avant Garde that they did last time they met.
TIP: Legacy eSports to beat Avant Garde 2-0 - $1.45 at CrownBet
Game #2 - Dire Wolves vs Chief eSports (18:00 AEST 25/3/2017)
Currently Chiefs have 4 out of their 5 man starting squad on suspensions, so will be entering this game a little shakier than usual. Dire Wolves are proving why they are one of the top contenders in this tournament, and ultimately have the advantage here. While the substitutes for Chiefs won against Exile5 last week 2-0, Exile have failed to win a match this tournament, and with their coach leaving mid way through, we expect the Chiefs to have an uphill battle against Dire Wolves, but with a substitute line-up proving how strong they are, anything could happen here.
TIP: Dire Wolves to beat Chiefs 2-1 (odds unavailable at time of publication)
Game #3 - SIN Gaming vs Abyss eSports Club (15:00 AEST 26/3/2017)
Coming off a win against the higher rated Legacy eSports, SIN Gaming will be looking to capitilise on the momentum this week to try and earn themselves a spot in the final weeks. With Abyss still looking quite solid, expect a cut-throat match as each tries to claw their way into the final playoffs. Last time these two met, it was 2-1 in favor of SIN with some huge plays pulling them through, however looking even stronger, we predict SIN to come out the victors.
TIP: SIN Gaming to beat Abyss eSports 2-0 (odds unavailable at time of publication)
Game #4 - Tainted Minds vs Exile5 (18:00 AEST 26/3/2017)
The two shakiest teams in the split at the moment will meet once again this week to battle it out for those ever needed points. With both suffering heavy roster and management changes during this tournament, anything is possible here, with Exile5 looking for their potential first match win this split. This game will most likely be the most unstable to predict correctly, however if Tainted Minds can find good form early in game 1, they should easily be able to finish this off in the same fashion as last time.
TIP: Tainted Minds to beat Exile5 2-1 (odds unavailable at time of publication)
Asia
League of Legends Champions Korea, Seoul, Korea (LCK)
One of the most renowned tournaments in the world, the LCK always proves to be one of the most entertaining tournaments to watch, and with a prize pool over AU$3.5 million, you can expect the competition to be top notch, and incredibly fierce. Capable of boasting about being one of the most viewed finals in the world, the LCK constantly delivers revolutionary teams that often set the fore-front of what is strongest to play in each game. As we sit in the middle of the 9th week out of a 10 week split, these final games will be incredibly close as each team will be vying for a place in the playoffs to steal away the eye-watering prize money. Featuring SKT, a team who has reached the World Finals 3 years in a row, everyone will be looking to take the crown from them and claim the throne of one of the best teams in the world.
SIDE NOTE: Follow MVP this tournament. This analyst thinks it could be your best bet this season. With enormous open market odds for MVP to win a grand final, they are well on their way for an SKT upset. Ok, done, back to the rest of it, i'll stop gushing. Our overview of the next few weeks are as follows.
Game #1 - Samsung Galaxy vs SK Telecom T1 (19:00 AEST 25/3/2017)
Two of the most recognised teams in the world will face off this Saturday in what is one of the most anticipated matches this split. With Samsung Galaxy pulling off a HUGE upset against KT Rolster, beating them for the second time in 11 games, expect them to put SKT to the test. While being the clear favourites in this match, and possessing an unparalleled ability to capitilise on the slightest mistakes, SKT will need to be careful of the snowballing power of Ambition in the jungle, and if pulled off correctly, Samsung are well poised to bring in another upset. Momentum is huge for these teams though, and nothing is concrete here, we expect it to be incredibly close, and an almost mistake free game from both sides.
TIP: SK Telecom T1 to beat Samsung Galaxy 2-1 - $3.10 for map score, $1.35 for the win at CrownBet
Game #2 - MVP vs ROX Tigers (22:00 AEST 25/3/2017)
Another game that is expected to be an incredibly good one to watch, we will see two teams capable of bringing top tier players to their knees, finally fight it out for the last time hoping to meet again in the playoffs. MVP have been absolutely dominant this split, and with back to back wins against the second seed KT Rolster, they are showing the rest of the tournament that money doesn't make a team, and are tipped at being the dark horse of the tournament. While ROX are finding great form with a new line-up, they are unfortunately still showing that the armor can be cracked, and are under enormous pressure to climb their ranking back up. Rolling on the back of an enormous upset, and a support player by the name of Max who is the new God of the game, expect MVP to pull off another fantastic game, and cement their place in the final playoffs. On a side note, I love MVP, I picked them to defeat KT back to back, including map score, and I am putting my house on them to meet SKT in the finals (Please don't put your house on them, this analyst just really loves MVP.)
TIP: MVP to beat ROX Tigers 2-0 - $2.30 for map score, $1.45 for the win at CrownBet
Game #3 - Afreeca Freecs vs Longzhu Gaming (19:00 AEST 26/3/2017)
Oh Afreeca Freecs... You can be so on point when you want, and just crumble when not. Afreeca will be looking to take this game out as cleanly as possible after suffering a bit of an embarrassing loss to ROX Tigers 2-0 earlier in the week. Proving to be incredibly dominant against SKT earlier in the split, and being the only team to beat them this split so far, they are capable of pulling off some huge upsets... when they want. Longzhu Gaming put SKT to the test a few days ago, even taking out a map against them, however are cracking under the pressure quite heavily. If they don't win this game, they will most likely not reach playoffs, so expect them to be going backs to the wall, and hopefully being completely on point with this, otherwise their future is a bit uncertain. Expect Afreeca Freecs to really put the pressure on, and seal themselves a final spot for the playoffs.
TIP: Afreeca Freecs to beat Longzhu Gaming 2-0 - $3.25 for map score, $1.85 for the win at CrownBet
Game #4 - KT Rolster vs Kongdoo Monster (22:00 AEST 26/3/2017)
Kongdoo Monster... A team where words will elude you completely this split. A team who once used to be capable of international dominance, we are all scratching our heads wondering what went wrong exactly. With only one match under their belt this split, they are in no position of qualifying for the playoffs, so expect their last two weeks to be just as woeful as the beginning. With most players now in question over contracts for next season, this one should be an absolute walk in the park. But as most who know KT Rolster will say, their over-confidence is often their downfall. However, with Kongdoo playing just as terribly as they are, we expect this one to be as easy as drinking a beer on a Friday night. Standard.
TIP: KT Rolster to beat Kongdoo Monster 2-0 - $1.07 for the win at CrownBet
And that's our write-up for a jam packed weekend of eSports, and a small glimpse at what's going on in the world of League of Legends around us. While we sit close to home this week with the Oceanic and Asian regions being selected, expect us to start covering a wide range of markets, including North America and Europe, as well as a wider variety of games. So stay tuned for plenty more as we move forward, and as always, good luck to those who will be backing it this weekend! (Also, good luck to MVP, this analyst can't stop talking about them, and will not, MVP Max is a God in the support role, and should be given a bazillion dollars, high powered sports cars, his pick of Victoria Secret models and all the VB that a man can drink.)
If you're looking for a great place to bet on eSports, then look no further than CrownBet. They have a great range of markets, covering events in Australia, Asia and all around the globe, and very competitive odds.
Make sure to read full terms and conditions of any betting promotion before placing any bets - may not be available to residents of all states.
Take note: Any of the tips in this article are simply the author’s opinion, so bet at your own risk and always gamble responsibly. Also be sure to check out the Before You Bet Twitter Page for all our thoughts in the lead up to bets! Happy punting!
