DreamHack Masters Spring 2021: The three contenders cover image

DreamHack Masters Spring 2021: The three contenders

DreamHack Masters Springs will feature some of the best teams in action. Here’s the format and the top three contenders for the $250,000 Online event.

DreamHack Masters Spring is an online CS:GO event and will be a part of the ESL Pro Tour. As COVID continues through 2021, it has become difficult to get teams to travel across the world to participate in LAN. Despite the obstacles, DreamHack Masters Spring is set to be a competitive tournament with some of the biggest names in Counter-Strike. 

What is the DreamHack Masters Spring format?

Sixteen teams will take part in the DreamHack Masters Spring 2021 event. The teams are competing for a  $250,000 prize pool. The group stage kicks off on April 29 and will continue for three days through May 1st. The teams form two groups of eight teams each. The initial matches are all best-of-one but every following match uses a Bo3 format. 

The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs:

  • Group stage winners advance to the Semifinals.
  • Runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds.
  • Group stage 3rd place teams advance to the Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds.

The playoffs take place from May 7-9, 2021 and has a single-elimination bracket.

Top teams at DreamHack Masters Spring 2021

There are sixteen teams at DreamHack Masters Spring. But let’s be real, only a few have an actual chance of making it to the end. Gambit, Heroic and Natus Vincere are three of the favorites to win the trophy and here’s why. 

Heroic - Contender #1

<em>Heroic won ESL Pro League Season 13. Image Credit: </em><a href="https://twitter.com/heroicgg/status/1381367219687452673"><em>Heroic</em></a><em>.</em>&nbsp;
Heroic won ESL Pro League Season 13. Image Credit: Heroic. 

The story of Heroic’s players has been one of inspiration, awe and motivation. Nearly one year ago, the players were part of a failed Heroic transfer deal to FunPlus Phoenix. The rejection hurt, the lack of confidence in their skill hurt. But the players persevered and the past year has been a dream come true for many of them. But they are still going strong with their current momentum.

After winning the ES LPro League Season 13 and a 3rd place finish versus Gambit at the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2021, Heroic is one of the favorites at this tournament. 

Heroic’s dominance on Vertigo is one of the biggest reasons for its advantage in the map pool. The team plays Vertigo as a well-oiled machine. While others have tried to dethrone Heroic from its Vertigo throne, it has been a failed attempt most of the time. Besides Vertigo, Heroic has a deep map pool in Inferno and Mirage. The team’s CT aggression and coordination is a move that catches opponents off-guard, but it also gives valuable information to the Danish squad. The push and pull tactics of the team is evident on Vertigo, a map where the players always seem to have each other’s backs. 

Gambit Esports - Contender #2

<em>Hobbit and NAFANY. Image Credit: </em><a href="https://twitter.com/GambitEsports/status/1384134052920188932"><em>Gambit esports</em></a><em>.&nbsp;</em>
Hobbit and NAFANY. Image Credit: Gambit esports

2021 has been the year of Gambit esports. The team started with a win in the Vulkan Fight Series. It would then secure the top-four finishes at the DreamHack Open in January 2021: Europe, the SNow Sweet Snow #1 and IEM World Championship. More recently, Gambit lost in the finals of the ESL Pro League Season 13 and secured a top spot at the BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2021. 

The Gambit journey was unexpected and yet a treat to watch. What started as a Gambit Youngsters roster has blossomed into the best team in the world. The team’s rivalry with Heroic is a treat to watch for CS:GO fans, not just because of the storylines, but also because it brings differing playstyles into play. Gambit has a strong T-side which helps the team secure a massive lead in most of its cases.

Natus Vincere - The outside challenger

The CIS team will remain a top contender simply because of the sheer skill on this roster. The team will be playing with B1t on its team and should be able to put up a strong performance. Na’Vi’s strength lies in its deep map pool and the experience of the roster playing together. With one of the best players on its roster in S1mple; Na’Vi can potentially be a surprise component of the DreamHack Masters tournament.

Besides these three obvious favorites, FaZe Clan, G2 esports and mousesports will also be vying for glory. The three teams have shown signs of brilliance, but have often fallen short at the tail end of big tournaments. 

DreamHack Masters Spring 2021 kicks off on April 29. Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest CS:GO news and updates