ESL Professional League is again with Season 20, with 32 groups heading to Malta for some of the thrilling CS2 occasions of the 12 months. We’re having a look in any respect the groups concerned, providing you with our energy rankings for every Group, in addition to particular crew predictions for favorites and underdogs!
Credit score: ESL
Group A
Credit score: Helena Kristiansson | © ESL
Regardless of having two of the strongest groups in ESL Professional League Season 20, Group A may be the weakest of all. NAVI and FaZe Clan are the apparent standouts, and we’ll be staggered if these two groups usually are not within the Higher Bracket Ultimate of this Group. Whereas FaZe’s kind has been ropey of late, to say the least, they need to nonetheless have sufficient to be comfy in Group A, whereas NAVI will wish to swiftly bounce again after disappointment within the IEM Cologne 2024 Ultimate.
Natus Vincere
FaZe Clan
Everlasting Fireplace
Heroic
Ninjas in Pyjamas
FlyQuest
Sangal Esports
Lynn Imaginative and prescient
Our highlighted underdogs are Everlasting Fireplace and Ninjas in Pyjamas. For EF, issues haven’t fairly been clicking currently as they have been earlier within the 12 months, however with gamers of XANTARES and woxic’s high quality, you’re at all times in with an opportunity of victory. For NIP, disappointment in on-line occasions has been their story just lately. There’s a great core right here, and we expect they’ve obtained a shot of rewriting the narrative in Malta.
Group B
Credit score: Viola Schuldner | © ESL
Regardless of Group Spirit bombing out of IEM Cologne 2024 in final place, we’re sticking with them for prime of our ESL Professional League Season 20 energy rankings in Group B. G2 have proven some indicators of inconsistency just lately, and Spirit are actually higher than the opposite names in Group B. Regardless of G2’s cracks within the armor, they’ve nonetheless obtained far an excessive amount of firepower to let an excessive amount of go awry right here.
Group Spirit
G2 Esports
The MongolZ
9z Group
MIBR
3DMAX
KOI
Wildcard
The underdogs listed here are an fascinating case – be careful for 9z Group and Wildcard. 9z Group have overwhelmed some strong groups on LAN of late, exhibiting there’s maybe the next stage to this roster than we beforehand realized. In the meantime, Wildcard have received all however two collection since including European abilities phzy and susp, successful an unimaginable 29 in that point. This will likely be an important take a look at of their true stage.
Group C
Credit score: IEM on X.
Whereas MOUZ and Astralis are Group C’s massive favorites, this can be a group full of actual upset groups that may dismantle the established order. Whereas we’re assured MOUZ will progress with ease, control Astralis. On paper, sure, they need to end second right here, however we’re fascinated to see if it pans out that method in follow. Astralis have to bounce again after their latest disappointments, and something much less may spell doom for this iteration of the roster as it’s.
MOUZ
Astralis
Complexity
Imperial Esports
BIG
Fnatic
M80
Rooster
Groups like Imperial Esports and Fnatic may show to be actual issues right here. This will likely be Fnatic’s first LAN of this tier since including blameF, in order that they’ll have a degree to show. For Imperial, we actually just like the younger core of attempt, decenty, and noway. All three are extremely proficient gamers trying to present what they’re able to in a extra prestigious CS2 event than they’re used to.
Group D
Credit score: Michał Konkol | © ESL
After successful IEM Cologne 2024, Vitality are again on observe. There have been whispers of roster modifications over the previous few months, however how will you after such an enormous win? They must fancy their probabilities of a win at ESL Professional League Season 20, and are actually amongst our favorites. They’re joined by Group Liquid, who’ve seemed very robust since Twistzz took over as IGL. Can final proceed his nice kind to hold Liquid? Time will inform.
Group Vitality
Group Liquid
Virtus.professional
Falcons
FURIA
ENCE
RED Canids
ATOX Esports
Our underdogs listed here are Falcons and FURIA. Falcons have been on the grind in a number of occasions just lately, with a person uptick in kind ever since rumors of NiKo’s arrival surfaced. These Falcons gamers are enjoying for his or her spot on the crew come 2025, and this might lead to some strong ends in Malta. In the meantime, FURIA gave a good account of themselves at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade Season 2, with FalleN rolling again the years to 2016 to impress. It’s a small upward trajectory, however for FURIA, something is best than its performances earlier within the 12 months.
