The match-ups for the Challengers stage of IEM Rio Major are all set. Out of 16 teams, only half will make it to the next round.
At the top of the list to complete this stage is Team Vitality, who were winners of the recently concluded ESL Pro League. 1.20 are the odds that online sportsbook bet365 has given the team to qualify. Similarly, Cloud9 are given 1.25 with Team OG not too far behind at 1.36.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: October 12, 1:00 A.M. (EST)
The addition of Spinx to the roster has certainly woken the whole Vitality squad up as they fell just short of reaching the Legends stage via RMR. ZywOo, the team’s superstar awper, posted a 1.38 rating and a +64 K/D during the RMR and have single-handedly carried the team in some stretches. His impact and reliability is certainly something that they will count on during the majors.
Cloud9 coming out of Group A fell to Team Spirit for a chance at the Legends stage. Despite the lackluster performance of the team after dominating in Dallas last June, the team is still capable of defeating anyone on any given day. Rifler Ax1le and awper Sh1ro have certainly blossomed into the superstars that they currently are after playing together for almost three years now ever since their Gambit youngsters days.
Mouz, BIG, Fnatic, and Outsiders are considered second fiddle along with Team OG in contrast to Vitality and Cloud9 for teams coming into Rio from the European Counter Strike scene. However, with eight slots up for grabs, it is not a dead-lock that all the aforementioned teams pass the beginning major round. All these teams have gone through significant roster changes after the July player break and this needs to be taken into consideration.
GamerLegion, who knocked g2 out of contention, will have all eyes fixed on them. They came out of nowhere and have made it past a very difficult bracket. Along with Bad News Eagle, and perhaps Evil Geniuses, GamerLegion are definitely underdogs that will command respect.
The event will be held in Brazil and as such, it is expected that the Brazilian teams will be heavily cheered for as the CS:GO scene in the country is very passionate. Furia is without a doubt the best team waving the Brazilian flag and are likely to enter the Legends stage.
However, it is Imperial Esports led by the living legend of Counter Strike, Fallen, who everyone will be cheering for. Fallen is a very influential figure to the scene, more so within his own country. He led legendary Brazilian squads to world domination in his long tenured career.
Eight teams are already sitting and waiting at the Legends stage, who will make it out of the challengers stage and fight their way to have a chance at a major trophy?
