SammyCe123 (BH/MnM/STAB) vs Greybaum (AAA/GG)
For being the "16"th seed Greybaum is a tough opponent. Definitely favoured in AAA and though Sammy is GG council and such I think Greybaum's novelty stuff in GG can be powerful. Other tiers though I think Greybaum can get mainer-diffed.
BH - I don't think I've seen Sammy play BH recently but evidently from Ivar's CL builds I don't think hes helping out much. Greybaum has like minimal experience but is active in watching some of the games, so he wouldn't be clueless to interactions and play sequences. This matchup obviously favours Sammy but is closer than some people might expect perhaps. I feel like Sammy wouldn't first pick this but second pick is pretty likely.
pannu (AAA/BH/GG/MnM/STAB) vs lepton ()
I think lepton hasn't done particularly well in the recent SSNLs while pannu has been on fire this year with multiple finals appearances. I think AAA is the only tier that pannu doesn't really play but they can probably bribe one of his many teammates to pass something useable.
BH - pannu hates the tier as is fsr so probably will get tilted just from prepping it but lepton also hasn't played much. However pannu will avoid picking BH and I think lepton will also not pick it compared to more comfortable picks so its not going to be played.
Icemaster (BH/GG/MnM/STAB) vs ghostlike (AAA)
Icemaster went off in SSNLs and has generally been very strong at clicking. However he will depend on team passing which can be more shaky when a lot of the good team passers are in this same tour. Still, he seems to be favoured in every slot but AAA even with using stashed teams probably.
BH - Both have played BH on several occasions, but it seems like as long Ice is able to load a reasonable team he is better. Afaik Ice also thinks of this tier a bit better than some of the other ones so possibly second pick.
TTTech (GG/MnM/STAB) vs damflame 3 (AAA/BH)
I think if it was a month ago I might've predicted differently here, since it seems like damflame is a bit out of form recently. He is still more favoured in AAA though as I think TTTech doesn't play that tier much at all.
BH - Tech has like no new ideas here while damflame reportedly does and Tech's recent teams/games have not been that inspirational. I think this is probably going going to be low on either player's priority pick so it would depend on match ending early or not to be picked.
Treeko928 (BH/MnM/STAB) vs Tbp24 (AAA/GG)
Two newish players that are both cementing to be strong all round players, though this matchup has a few mainer diff tiers I think. AAA and GG should be Tbp's advantaged tiers here especially considering his likely test players and support, but the others Treeko should be favoured though only slightly for some.
BH - Probably the most favoured tier for Treeko since this is probably Tbp's weakest tier? That being said I don't know if Treeko particularly enjoys playing this to priority pick it. Still likely to be first or second so we will see this being played.
QT (BH/MnM/STAB) vs Kaif (AAA/GG)
Its the same matchup from GS... Last time it went the full 5 games and it very likely would happen again. AAA is like Kaif's preferred tier now and I don't think it has been one of QT's stronger ones, and GG is probably QT's weakest tier overall? Other ones I would favour QT though, with two main tiers and STAB having a decent run recently while Kaif being absent in several. Probably the closest match of all.
BH - First pick for QT, probably their strongest and opponent's weakest easily. Last time Kaif loaded an exotic city build but couldn't pilot it precisely I think.
Osake (GG) vs Kinetic (AAA/BH/MnM/STAB)
Kinetic has been kind of popping off recently in multiple tiers. AAA insane records, MnM and STAB solid performances. GG I lean Osake because I think he will get French support which are all pretty competitive at GG.
BH - Fascinatingly despite probably being both player's least familiar? tier they both got impressively deep runs in SSNL. Its probably going to be a pretty funny game to watch and I'm mainly bolding by who went deeper. I think if anyone were to pick this it would be Osake but I also don't think this is his second pick so its last tier probably.
RoFnA (GG/MnM) vs Betticus IV (AAA/BH/STAB)
Pretty tight matchup too. RoFnA is probably marginally better at playing but I think is going to reuse heavily and/or get stuff passed aggressively (looking at you SpaceSpeakers). Betticus should be slightly favoured in AAA being a home comfort tier, and STAB I can't be bolding RoFnA when he dodges only its SSNL as council. MnM definitely favoured for RoFnA, and GG he seems to be slightly more experienced.
BH - RoFnA loads very antiquated builds for this tier and Betticus can build better than that. I don't think either player particularly wants to pick this though.