LOUD vs Optic Gaming Prediction

The green wall versus the loudest fans in the world, Masters Reykjavík 2022 Upper Bracket Final promises to deliver one o the best matches in the history of competitive Valorant.

Coming into this series both teams have fought hard to get to this point in the competition, and many think the winner of this match will end up winning the whole thing.

We can all expect a very entertaining and close series, with the best competitive Valorant has to offer.

Without further ado, let’s see what are the X-factors that can swing the series either way.

Map Pool

Both teams have a permaban map. Loud has banned Split on all the series they played this Masters Reykjavík 2022, while the North American vice-champions have Breeze as their permanent map ban.

So it’s expected for Split and Breeze to be banned straightway.

If Optic Gaming is the first team to pick then Bind is the obvious choice for the North American squad.

Bind is by far the best map of Optic Gaming currently. The team was an 87% win rate and dominate their opponents on Bind with most of them not being able to get to double digits.

But you should not underestimate LOUD when it comes to Bind. The Brazilian team has yet to lose on the map so they will at least put up a decent fight.

When it comes to team compositions on Bind, Optic Gaming likes to run a double controller with a Viper and Brimstone. But the difference-maker of this composition is Chamber, being more specific it’s yay Chamber.

The superstar player is able to multiple first kills on the defensive side and rotates to the other site with his teleport, making it almost impossible to know where he is playing, and giving a lot of flexibility to Optic Gaming.

As for LOUD, they normally run a double controller similar to Optic Gaming,  but with a double initiator normally opting not to take any sentinel. However, they have also incorporated Sage into their comp the last time they played the map.

LOUD attacking side is also very strong on Bind, they win 85% of the round on the attacking side, and aspas Raze on Bind is spectacular.

Ascent should be picked by LOUD. It’s a map where the Brazilian team is still undefeated and feels very comfortable, it’s their most played map, and they have already defeated teams such as G2 Esports and Team Liquid.

Optic Gaming is also proficient on Ascent, but the North American side hasn’t found a lot of success on the map while at Masters Reykjavík 2022, losing two times, versus XERXIA Esports and DRX, and defeating KRÜ Esports.

The compositions of both teams are very familiar. Optic Gaming opts for a double initiator, Killjoy as the sentinel, Jett as the duelist, and Omen or Brimstone as the smoker.

LOUD has run the same exact composition on their last five games on Ascent. With a double initiator, Kayo and Sova, aspas on his well-known and feared Jett, Less on Killjoy which is also his signature pick on this map, and pancada on Omen.

Even if Optic Gaming has a good game plan, and is well prepared for LOUD Ascent, I still think the Brazilian squad is the favorite on this map.

They are arguably the best team in the world on Ascent, so Optic Gaming will have a difficult task on this map.

In the second ban phase, things get interesting, with Icebox, Haven, and Fracture being the remaining maps.

Optic Gaming has not found that much success on Haven recently, losing to The Guard both times and to V1.

While LOUD found a lot of success domestically but were stomped by Team Liquid on Haven 13-3.

I think one of the two teams will ban Haven, probably Optic Gaming.

While Loud will be able to choose between Icebox or Fracture.

The Brazilian side only played Fracture three times, and Optic Gaming Fracture looked really good against The Guard, so I expect LOUD to ban Fracture and let Icebox as the decider.

When it comes to Icebox both teams are comfortable on the map.

Optic Gaming only has a 57% win rate compared to the 86% of LOUD, but the North American squad defeated DRX and The Guard at this Masters Reykjavík playoffs so they are by no means a bad team on Icebox.

They normally run a double initiator with a double sentinel composition, which also explains the fact they have a higher win rate % on the defensive side.

However, don’t full yourself into thinking they have a lot of difficulties on the attacking side with this composition because Optig Gaming proved otherwise in their match against DRX.

When it comes to LOUD they are at home when it comes to Icebox. They have defeated Team Liquid on this map and looked really comfortable.

LOUD composition differs from the Optic Gaming one.

The Brazilian side also brings the double sentinel, but they sometimes opt for a double initiator instead, and aspas is always on his Jett.

Playstyle

LOUD is a very flexible team, especially saadhak who plays a plethora of agents.

The Brazilian team is also full of firepower, which is something that can make a difference.

Optic Gaming is not that flexible but can play a variety of agents for their own position.

Optic Gaming has one of the best players in the world in yay, but sometimes the team doesn’t start the map in the best way possible and it feels like yay is carrying the team until the remaining members “wake up”.

This causes Optic Gaming to have to run against the scoreboard in multiple games.

However, Victor has been performing at a very high level lately, as he together with yay, has been the one-two punch of Optic Gaming.

LOUD is a very strong team, they have experienced players and young talented stars.

This team is full of firepower, everyone can frag out which makes them very dangerous.

And if yay is probably the best player in the world aspas is not too far behind him.

In this matchup, I think Loud will come out on top. They look really good and are coming from a very convincing win against G2 Esports.

Together with the firepower the team has, and how well prepared they normally are for their opponents, I see LOUD advancing for the Grand Final after a close series.

One thing is for sure, we are going to experience some of the best competitive Valorant to date, and if there is one thing we should have learned by now is that everything is possible at Masters Reykjavík 2022.

Prediction: LOUD