Starcraft 2 World Team League 2023 Prediction, Picks, and Odds for January 1

• Psistorm Gaming have got the edge against Team Liquid

• Onsyde should get the better of Alpha X

• Dragon Phoenix are favorites against KaiZi

Psistorm Gaming vs Team Liquid Pick

Psistorm Gaming 

Psistorm Gaming vs Team Liquid Prediction

Psistorm Gaming should have the edge in this game. Team Liquid are yet to reach the heights in Starcraft 2 that they’ve managed in other esports. Psistorm Gaming have got more experience and quality, which should get them through. 

Psistorm Gaming Made Some Strides in 2022

Psistorm Gaming had a great 2022 going by their history. They got a 4-2 win against an in-from Onsyde as well, which will give them lots of confidence heading into the new year. They were an inconsistent force until 2020, but they’re just short of the elite now. The next step is to be among the elite, and there’s no better way to show that they mean business than by winning their first match of the year. 

They ended the 2022 World Team League Summer edition in sixth place, which isn’t too bad considering they finished 8th in the 2021 Winter edition. Their task now is to break into the top 4. Beating the likes of Team Liquid, who are an inferior team as things stands, is part of the job. 

Team Liquid Could Be a Surprise This Season

Team Liquid are a pretty big esports organization, and making a mark in Starcraft 2 will help expand their brand. After finishing in 5th place in the 2021 World Team League Winter edition, dropping to 8th place in the 2022 Summer edition. They were supposed to make that push to the top in 2022 but have declined a little instead.  

They’ve proven that they can manage a top-eight finish, but there’s no doubt that the aim is to finish at the very top. They haven’t taken that leap yet. This could be the year for that. All that being said, they’ll go into this match as the underdogs, and they just don’t seem equipped to beat a side like Psistorm Gaming right now. They need to restore their confidence again before looking at their ultimate goals. 

Onsyde vs Alpha X Pick

Onsyde 

Onsyde vs Alpha X Prediction

Alpha X are a decent team, but Onsyde are one of the best sides in Starcraft 2 at the moment. Most teams wouldn’t like facing Onsyde in this sort of form. They are definitely the favorites heading into this tie. 

Onsyde Are in Phenomenal Form 

Onsyde are one of the best sides in Starcraft 2 esports 2 at the moment. They were on a 15-match unbeaten run before losing to Psistorm Gaming. It shouldn’t take away from what has been a great period for Onsyde. In fact, Onsyde might’ve just needed that little wake-up call to go up another level. 

They’ve been phenomenal this Winter season. The only thing they need to worry about is complacency. Every team will look to go up a level in the new year. Onsyde couldn’t do a lot more than what they’ve done in recent weeks. If Onsyde want to be the best, they have to go on another winning run. They should aim to overthrow the likes of Dragon Phoenix, who’ve got a vice-like grip to the Starcraft 2 crown. They’ve certainly shown the potential for doing something similar in recent months. 

Alpha X Seem to Have Plateaued 

Alpha X were consistently challenging for the biggest Starcraft 2 esports prizes in 2022. They’ve had a good season, and their performances have improved since 2021. They finished fourth in the 2022 World Team League Summer edition, but this wasn’t an improvement from their performances in the 2021 Winter edition. Alpha X will be disappointed that they didn’t really rise this season as far as the World Team League. Another fourth-place finish wouldn’t be bad, but 2023 has got to be the year where they become proper contenders for the league. Beating a side like Onsyde would certainly give them the confidence to do something special. They’ll also be wary that they could very easily slip away. For now, it’s hard to see them get the better of Onsyde. 

KaiZi vs Dragon Phoenix Pick

Dragon Phoenix

KaiZi vs Dragon Phoenix Prediction

KaiZi are a top side, but Dragon Phoenix are the best side in Starcraft 2 right now. There can only be one favorite when that’s the case. 

Kaizi Will Have Their Work Cut Out Against Dragon Phoenix

KaiZi have shown a lot of progress this season. They ended 2021 with a sixth-place finish in the World Team League Winter edition before following that up with a third-place finish in the World Team League Summer edition. The next step is to win the league. 

As good as their progress has been, they’re facing the toughest side in the league on Sunday. They’ll not just have to be at their best, they’ll also need Dragon Phoenix to have an off day. It’s hard to see them winning this match, but this has all the makings of a tight game. KaiZi lost 4-3 the last time these sides met. They were really close to doing something special and will take a lot of inspiration from that. If they do beat Dragon Phoenix, they might be the team to watch in 2023. 

Dragon Phoenix Are the Team to Beat 

Dragon Phoenix have been dominating Starcraft 2 for three years. There’s no doubt that they’re the best team in the league at the moment. They’ve won the World Team League 2022 Summer and the World Team League 2021 Winter editions and came second in the World Team League 2021 Summer edition. 

This is the sort of consistency every other team aspires for, but Starcraft 2 is a competitive league where any team can be beaten and Dragon Phoenix will be well aware of that. KaiZi gave them a real scare the last time these two sides met, and Dragon Phoenix will do their best to ensure that the same isn’t repeated this time. Dragon Phoenix are a real force of nature. They only lost two matches in the winter edition of the league and three times in the summer edition. Most of the players in the team have been playing with one another for almost three years now. 

The only thing that could stop Dragon Phoenix from winning this match is a bit of complacency. They might not approach this game with all guns blazing as it’s the first match of the new year – it might take them some time to get their groove. They haven’t shown any obvious signs of decline, but this happens to the best of teams in any esport. 

How To Watch

• Teams: Psistorm Gaming vs Team Liquid, Alpha X vs Onsyde, and KaiZi vs Dragon Phoenix

• Location: China

• Time: Sunday, January 1 at 6 am ET

• How to watch: Official Twitch stream