ChaiViz
25.04.2026
The Thunderpick World Championship 2026: North American Series is getting underway, and the opening round delivers four Group Stage matches spread across two days. Some of these are contested on paper and some are closer to formalities, but every pick counts when you are building your leaderboard position from the ground up.
Gocore will have tips covering Group Stage matches as the tournament progresses, so check back regularly for updated analysis as results come in and bracket implications take shape.
FarmVille come into this match as clear favorites, and their map data over the last six months justifies that status. They have posted a 73% winrate on Dust2 across 15 maps, which puts them firmly in elite territory for consistency on that surface. Ancient adds a reliable second option at 60% across another 15 maps over the same period.
The one potential opening for OverKnight lies on Mirage. FarmVille treat it as a priority ban, and on the rare occasions it has been allowed through, they have managed only a 38% winrate. That is a real weakness, but one FarmVille are clearly aware of and actively protect against in the veto. Unless OverKnight can force an unlikely map pool scenario, they will be competing on unfavorable ground throughout.
Head-to-head history reinforces the picture, with FarmVille taking the most recent meeting between these sides.
Predicted winner: FarmVille
Aether look even more dominant here. A 62% winrate on Nuke across 13 maps in the last six months gives them a strong map anchor, and their head-to-head record against Shimmer sits at a clean 2-0.
Their one notable weakness is Dust2, which they ban at a 92% rate. On the handful of occasions it has made it through the veto, Aether have won just 20% of the time. That is a significant hole in their profile, but one they have been diligent about avoiding throughout the year. Shimmer would need a best-case veto scenario just to get competitive. Aether should control this one from the start.
Predicted winner: Aether
insane players arrive on the back of seven consecutive wins and a perfect 100% winrate on Mirage from six map picks over the last six months. That kind of form and map consistency does not leave much ambiguity about where this match is heading.
Incognito's last relevant competitive appearance according to HLTV was in 2020. There is very little to suggest they are equipped to compete at this level right now. This is as close to a free point as the opening round offers. Lock it in with confidence.
Predicted winner: insane players
The final match of the opening round is a straightforward read on paper. InControl carry a 60% overall winrate across the last six months, built on a 53% winrate on Nuke across 19 maps and a 58% winrate on Mirage across 12. Those numbers reflect a team that executes reliably across multiple surfaces without leaning heavily on a single map.
girl kissers have not recorded a win in the last six months. Their last official win dates back to July 2025. There is nothing in the recent record to suggest that changes here, making InControl the safe and logical pick to close out the first day of Group B play.
Predicted winner: InControl
Four matches, four identifiable favorites. The Thunderpick World Championship 2026: North American Series opening round gives Pick'ems players a strong foundation to work from before the Group Stage heats up. Keep an eye on Gocore for continued tips and coverage as the remaining matches take shape.
ChaiViz
25.04.2026
Article TAGS
News Feed
FaZe Clan will miss the IEM Cologne Major 2026, ending a Major attendance streak stretching back to their Counter-Strike debut in 2016, after a catastrophic run of 2026 results wiped out their VRS qualification chances.
The HLTV Top 20 Players list remains the most influential individual ranking in Counter Strike, built on a detailed statistical model that rewards consistency, sample size, and elite level performance across the entire calendar year. It is thorough, disciplined, and data driven. But 2025 was not a year defined only by averages.
PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 brings the world's top CS2 teams into a high-stakes Swiss stage where structure beats hype and early momentum determines survival.
Spirit and Vitality anchor the safest IEM Krakow playoff bracket while quarter-final volatility creates crucial decision points that separate conservative Pick'ems strategies from aggressive leaderboard climbers.
The PGL Bucharest 2026 Playoffs are here, and we have predictions for every match from quarter-finals to the grand final to sharpen your Pick'ems strategy.
Budapest Major Stage 3 delivered chaos as predicted, FURIA perfected the 3-0, Liquid shocked with an 0-3 collapse, and seven of eight qualifier calls hit perfectly in the most volatile bracket stage yet.
IEM Rio's bracket stage delivered exactly what the opening day hinted at. The favorites held firm where it mattered most, but the deeper rounds exposed cracks, momentum swings, and the kind of volatility that defines elite Counter-Strike.
Round 4 and Round 5 of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 1 reshuffled the playoff picture entirely, with stunning collapses and clutch recoveries deciding who advances to Stage 2. Here is the full breakdown of every result and what it means for your Pick'ems standings.
Veteran in-game leader karrigan is reportedly bound for Team Falcons following IEM Rio, with the move corroborated by multiple credible sources including HLTV.
Eight teams descend on Stockholm for the ESL Pro League Season 23 LAN finals, with MOUZ and Spirit entering as the undefeated favorites. Here is your complete Pick'ems guide to navigate the single elimination bracket from quarterfinals to grand final.