Stake Ranked Episode 2: Opening Day CS2 Picks & Analysis

Stake Ranked Episode 2 kicks off on Wednesday, May 27th with a four-game slate of CS2 action.

Eight teams are in the hunt for the trophy in Barcelona, Spain: 3DMAX, magic, HEROIC, Ninjas in Pyjamas, FaZe, Alliance, 9z, and Sharks. Let's dive right in!

THE GAMES

Percentages are approximate win probabilities based on available odds.

3DMAX vs magic, 6:00 AM ET

This is a toss-up, with both teams at around 50% to win. 3DMAX has been hit-or-miss, and while they do have the edge in experience, magic has burst on to the scene and showed some serious chops recently.

Pick: 3DMAX > magic 2-1
Top Projection: misutaaa
Top Leverage: tenzy

HEROIC vs NIP, 8:30 AM ET

HEROIC is favored in what should be an entertaining matchup. NIP have been disappointing but do have a strong starting five that could cause HEROIC problems.

Pick: NIP > HEROIC 2-1
Top Projection: xKacpersky
Top Leverage: nilo

FaZe vs Alliance, 11:00 AM ET

Will FaZe start to turn things around sooner rather than later? They’re strongly favored against Alliance, who should be high on confidence after winning a lower-tier LAN this past weekend.

Pick: FaZe > Alliance 2-0 (close)
Top Projection: frozen
Top Leverage: MaiL09

9z vs Sharks, 1:30 PM ET

9z have been impressive, so it’s tough to expect anything other than a 2-0 series sweep. luchov and dgt give 9z a formidable firepower duo.

Pick: 9z > Sharks 2-0
Top Projection: luchov
Top Leverage: dgt

Win probabilities are approximate and subject to change. Always check current numbers before locking decisions.

For player-level ratings check CARNAGE before games start. For game-level fair values see MARKET. The new tool, RANGE, shows outcome distributions on a player and team level.

Good luck!