s1mple vs ZywOo kicks off IEM Atlanta tomorrow

Forget about the fact that Vitality are going to win again for a second - we start with s1mple vs ZywOo.

Is that not enough?

Vitality are obviously set for another IEM trophy, with NAVI, Astralis and FUT tasked with trying to stop them for the most part.

Vitality are the best team of all time, and you don’t need reminding about them. NAVI have been one of the most consistent contenders in the last few months, and their remarkable consistency has put them at the top of the foodchain - at least if one ignores the apEX predator.

Astralis have been steadily climbing up the ranks and are probably punching above their weight right now, while FUT look like one of the best teams in the world despite starting the season outside of the top 15. FUT, if anyone, seem most likely to stop Vitality at this event.

Vitality start the event up against the very exciting BC.Game, who now have their dastardly duo of Senzu and s1mple online and ready to go. BCG intrigue us massively, but this is absolutely a step too far too early. Still, seeing those two duke it out against a colossus is always an absolute joy to watch.

BCG are not likely to finish in the playoffs, but there is absolutely a distinct possibility of it.

FaZe are here with Neityu, who so far has landed pretty well and has solved a couple of problems. We're not ready to be all in on them yet, but we're definitely more excited to be watching them than we were a month ago.

Above them in the rankings are GamerLegion, B8 and Legacy, none of whom excite us. Legacy are completely and utterly bipolar, B8 are mediocre with s1zz1 in the team (which is better than they were with segukawa, at least) and GamerLegion are alright without really having the firepower to trouble the big dogs.

We wouldn't say we're excited about Liquid either, but we will be watching. So far, malbsMd has landed well on this team and is being let down by his compatriots, which was quite predictable, really.

'Fellow' (ahem) North Americans M80 and NRG are here, and we're quietly confident in M80. They're always a fun watch as they don't really play like an NA team at all, and Lake is always worth keeping an eye on. We don't expect fireworks, but maybe a spark, and an outside shot at playoffs.

NRG, less so. They aren't terrible, but they are flawed.

One team we're desperate to watch, and don't laugh at us here, is BetBoom. A FL4MUS and Magnojez duo is, on paper, absolute kino. BB have a tendency to underwhelm, but this is a roster that should - should - do some serious damage at an event like this.

That leaves Passion UA with sdy (meh), paiN (good but we've seen everything they can do before and they always disappoint) and SINNERS, who interest us because they rarely come to these events.

By all accounts they are a very dangerous tier two team, and we look forward to seeing what they can do.