Our Esports coverage is back for another week with Michael Lee scanning the Esports action around the globe for his best Esports bets of the day. Today, he's taking a look at action from China Dota2 Pro Cup Season 1 and BTS Pro Series Season 3: Southeast Asia. Check out his previews and Esports tips below!
ESports Betting Tips: Monday, September 21st
Team Aster vs LBZS - China Dota2 Pro Cup Season 1
Looking at the odds provided for this match, they make little to no sense and it seems like the bookmakers have set the odds based on the brand value alone. There is no denying Aster are one of the most recognisable names in the Chinese Dota2 scene, but that does not take away from the fact that LBZS looked significantly better throughout the competition.
LBZS are a stack of players headlined by ex-Keen Gaming Zhuang "xiaofu" Yongfu, former EHOME and current LGD International carry Yang "Ms" Yongjie and ex-Typhoon E-Sports Club support Tang "CatYou" Xiaolei. Even though LBZS does not feature any elite names, this squad already defeated the reigning DPL-CDA Professional League Season 2 finalists Invictus Gaming (2-1) and Sparking Arrow Gaming (2-1), who are both two of the strongest Chinese Dota2 squads.
Aster, on the other side, lost their opening fixture against PSG.LGD (1-2) and even though playing a three-map series with PSG.LGD is nothing to sneeze at, we have to note that PSG.LGD have been inactive for almost two months, so seeing them drop one map is not entirely shocking.
This match can easily go both ways, so there is definitely value in siding with the underdogs. Having said that, I still believe over 2.5 maps is the safer bet for this one, since I don't see how either team will manage a clean sweep.
Invictus Gaming vs Sparking Arrow Gaming - China Dota2 Pro Cup Season 1
The two-month break did not do any favours for Invictus Gaming, who have yet to show up during the Pro League. They started the tournament with a 1-2 loss to LBZS and last Saturday lost to PSG.LGD (0-2). Nevertheless, we should give IG some praise for their performance against PSG.LGD, where they had their chances to win but were outmuscled by PSG's superior individual quality.
Sparking Arrow Gaming, on the other hand, lost their opening two fixtures against LBZS (1-2) and PSG.LGD (0-2). Like IG, SAG had their flashes of greatness against PSG.LGD, but were clearly outclassed across the board.
SAG and IG met twice about two months ago during DPL-CDA where SAG won the first series 2-0, but lost the next 1-2. Earlier results show IG winning five games since April, so it's fair to say IG are the stronger side, however, since both teams are still a bit ring rusty, there is definitely a chance SAG can surprise IG.
Sparking Arrow Gaming to win
$2.34
TNC Predator vs Execration - BTS Pro Series Season 3: Southeast Asia
I won't say Execration are a bad team, but their performances at BTS Pro Series were disappointing, to say the least. Seven rounds in, they have yet to win a single match and even though they deserve some praise for their 1-1 stalemate with Fnatic last Friday, we must also note that Fnatic have been playing shockingly bad this competition and have - similarly to Execration - yet to win a single match (0-2-5).
TNC Predator are a team that has fallen out of the conversation about the strongest SEA Dota2 teams as of late due to their struggles in the online competitions but if their showings through BTS Pro Series are to go by, it's fair to say TNC are slowly returning to their old form.
Eight rounds in, TNC hold a solid 5-1-2 record. The only fixtures TNC failed to win came against BOOM Esports (1-1), Motivate.Trust Gaming (0-2) and Among Us (0-2). All these teams are significantly stronger than Execration.
The odds offered on TNC Predator are way too high considering how poorly Execration have been playing this tournament. Even though Execration managed a 1-1 draw against TNC Predator two months ago, they will be facing an entirely different beast this time out.
TNC Predator to win
$1.85
