The second group stage groups for the €50,000 Counter-Strike tournament in Paris have been announced only seconds ago. The groups look to pit a lot of teams from the same countries against each other, which means that national qualifiers played before will probably be a good indication of the winners. Without further ado, the second group stage draws as well as predictions for each group can be found by pressing Read More.

Group A
hostile records
GoodGame
Team 3D
Lunatic-Hai

Predictions: While it looks obvious that the big teams of 3D and GG will advance, 3D have had difficulties in the first group stage, losing out to forZe. Lunatic-Hai won their group, making them a strong candidate for a playoff place. I'd bet on experience kicking on for 3D, taking them through with a close 2nd place battle between GG and Lunatic.

Group B
wNv
Team Art
a-Losers
GameCrashers

Predictions: a-L shocked everyone by winning their first group, the group of death, dropping astralis out of the running. wNv won their group, and are thus a second candidate for the win, and I'm betting on the Germans advancing in addition to the Chinese team. Look for a close match between the two for the group win.

Group C
mousesports
Ninjas in Pyjamas
compLexity
x6tence

Predictions: THE GROUP OF DEATH! You just can't count anyone out. Legendary NiP team have looked strong, winning their group, but coL have recovered their form and are a very formidable opponent. And then you have CPL Barcelona winners mouz who are red-hot. And you still have x6 who upset 4K earlier and beat NiP in Spain. Impossible to call, but I'll go with NiP and mouz, but anyone could win. The group to watch.

Group D
Clan-IT
forZe
SK.dk
Virtus.Pro

Predictions: IT have played amazing, upsetting the mighty coL in the first group stage, while forZe upset 3D. SK were also upset by a-L. It's tough to call, no question about it, but with countrymen against countrymen, I'll pick Virtus from the Russians and ESWC defending champions SK from the Danes, but with IT already having upset them in the national qualifiers with a mighty 16-1, it could happen again.


The second group stage looks to be amazing, with some huge grudge-matches coming up. Will the new NiP beat x6? Will SK take revenge on IT? Is a-L for real?

All this and more to be answered in the following days.