00 Nation’s transition to an international roster seemed like a great move when Thomas “birdfromsky” Due Frederiksen and his crew won Pinnacle Cup V. However, since then, the squad has been in a downright spiral and hasn’t won or come close to winning a single event.

That includes a last-place finish at CCT Online Finals #3 and ninth-16th at CCT East Europe Series #2. Over that stretch, 00 Nation have lost against Sprout (0-2 and 1-2) and OG (1-2), so it’s not like they’ve struggled against many teams. But considering the quality of opponents 00 Nation beat during Pinnacle Cup V, it’s clear that something isn’t right.

ECSTATIC have not accomplished much over the last month either, and they have played much weaker opponents. So even though ECSTATIC don’t have a worse record, they’re still a weaker team.

At a better price, backing the outsiders to win would be a solid choice. But even though 00 Nation are in shaky form, they have a much higher ceiling than ECSTATIC.

500 enter CCT East Europe Series #3 in shaky form. The Bulgarian CS squad has not won a single notable tournament since European Development Championship Season 7 in February and have not placed higher than sixth over their last three.

However, 500 have found some traction recently and are 4-2 across their last six outings, with wins against Anonymo Esports (2-0) and BetBoom Team (16-13). It’s a small bounce back in an otherwise concerning stretch of iffy results, but winning a few games to get back on track might be what 500 need.

MOUZ NXT enjoyed a run of six consecutive wins in early October, but they’ve since managed just one victory across the next five against Turow Zgorzelec (2-0) in CCT East Europe Series #3: Closed Qualifier. Even more concerning is that MOUZ NXT have recently lost against weaker teams than 500.

Neither team is in a good spot ahead of this match, and while 500 are rightly priced as favourites with online betting sites, this should be a close game. The two squads don’t share a map pool, suggesting they should win their pick and that we’ll see all three maps played.

Team Falcons are reportedly close to forming a super team with Danny “zonic” S?rensen as the head coach. And some major changes are needed, considering the Falcons haven’t won much this season.

At the end of September, Team Falcons crashed out of CCT East Europe Series #2 in ninth-16th place, and a couple of weeks prior, they finished Thunderpick World Championship 2023: European Series #2 in 17th-24th. On a more positive note, the Falcons are 6-3 across their last nine outings, with wins against 9Pandas (twice), Turow Zgorzelec, B8, and los kogutos.

Results-wise Team Sampi are in a similar spot, but unlike Team Falcons, Erik “The eLiVe” Sith’s crew placed second at CCT East Europe Series #1 and won Tipsport Cup Prague Fall 2023: Online Stage at the start of the month. Still, Sampi are 4-9 since the start of September.

On paper, Team Falcons look stronger, but they shouldn’t be so pricey, which likely has to do with the brand recognition. At the offered betting odds, backing the underdogs offers more value.

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cadiaN, a 28-year-old AWPer and in-game leader, had been with Heroic since 2019, and was considered one of the best in-game leaders in professional Counter-Strike.

Thank you, @caspercadiaN pic.twitter.com/Wfe1MT10FB

— HEROIC (@heroicgg) October 4, 2023

While cadiaN led Heroic to the top of the world rankings in the online era in 2020 and achieved impressive results, including runner-up finishes in major events, the team faced challenges in recent times, losing to lower-ranked teams and underperforming in key tournaments.

cadiaN expressed a desire for changes in the roster to boost competitiveness, but the organization had a different approach.

The decision was characterized as a mutual one, with cadiaN acknowledging that they couldn’t find a middle ground to align their visions.

cadiaN remains ambitious and determined to continue his Counter-Strike career.

He believes he can contribute positively to other teams and is open to adapting his roles, potentially separating AWPing and in-game leading for the right fit.

The departure of cadiaN raises questions about Heroic’s future, as they lose not only a key player but also a leader, experienced player, and mentor to younger teammates.

The move comes during a period referred to as “CS2”, signifying changes and adjustments in the CS:GO professional scene.

As for cadiaN, his next destination in the CS:GO world remains uncertain, but he is focused on finding a team with which he can win and continue his successful career.

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NAVI’s journey in the tournament has been remarkable, as they have yet to drop a map.

They previously clinched victories against 5yclone, Apeks, FaZe in the group stage, and Eternal Fire in the quarter-finals.

This campaign marks a significant achievement for the Natus Vincere Counter-Strike roster, especially since they underwent a controversial international roster change during the summer off-season.

It also represents the organization’s first grand final appearance since their loss to FaZe Clan at IEM Cologne in July 2022.

Speaking about their success, s1mple expressed his satisfaction, highlighting that this final holds special significance for the team.

The semi-final against Monte proved to be a tough challenge for Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen’s team.

Monte led 11-7 on the favoured Terrorist side of Anubis and 9-4 on the CT side of Mirage.

However, it seemed that the pressure got to the relatively inexperienced squad.

NaVi’s ability to stay composed in clutch scenarios, especially on Mirage, and their prowess in late retakes turned the tide in their favour.

.@natusvincere cleanly take down @Monte_Esports 2-0 in the Semi Finals of #ESLProLeague S18!

16-12 Anubis
16-10 Mirage pic.twitter.com/W61SYCIxGn

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) September 30, 2023

In the other semi-final match, MOUZ secured a 2-1 victory against ENCE (Mirage 16-13, Vertigo 11-16, Nuke 16-8).

MOUZ, led by Kamil “siuhy” Szkaradek, continued their impressive run in the tournament, having previously defeated G2 and FaZe in the playoffs.

Adam “torzsi” Torzsas was massive for MOUZ, recording an equal server high rating of 1.23, after compiling a +23 kill/death differential across the three maps.

This win halted ENCE’s streak of four consecutive grand finals appearances.

The upcoming title decider between MOUZ and Natus Vincere is set for Sunday and will be contested in a best-of-five series.

This match will put both teams’ map pools to the test, considering the substantial line up changes they made during the summer off-season.

NaVi will enter the final as slight favourites at -138.89 with most esports betting sites, while MOUZ has been marked as +100 outsiders.

.@mousesports get the better of @ENCE in the last Semi Final of #ESLProLeague S18, closing it out 2-1

16-13 Mirage
11-16 Vertigo
16-8 Nuke pic.twitter.com/G1pe9H5tBG

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) September 30, 2023

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ENCE’s CS:GO team, led by Alvaro “SunPayus” Garcia, left no chance for the Spanish squad with impressive score lines of 16-2 on Overpass and 16-5 on Anubis.

SunPayus, the AWPer for ENCE, delivered a stellar performance with a remarkable 1.72 rating.

In a pre-game interview, Guy “NertZ” Iluz offered praise for his teammate’s outstanding performance by saying, “when SunPayus is feeling the game, I don’t think anyone can stop him.”

Movistar Riders struggled to hold their ground, lasting less than ten rounds on Overpass before succumbing to ENCE’s dominance.

Despite some close and chaotic situations early in the match, Riders failed to capitalize on them, allowing ENCE to cruise to victory.

ENCE displayed their superiority with a convincing 16-2 win.

The momentum carried into the Anubis map, where SunPayus continued to shine by quickly securing rounds for his team.

Although Alejandro “alex” Masanet and his team managed to win three of the last five rounds in the first half, the switch favoured Marco “Snappi” Pfeiffer’s ENCE squad.

ENCE’s pistol round victory sealed the deal as they went on a 6-0 run to finish the map 16-5.

Despite the one-sided nature of the series, Antonio “Martinez” Martinez of Movistar Riders maintained a respectable 1.07 rating, offering a silver lining for his team in the face of such a dominant defeat.

.@ENCE demolish @Movistar_Riders 2-0, securing their spot in the SEMI FINALS of #ESLProLeague Season 18!

16-2 Overpass
16-5 Anubis pic.twitter.com/D8MBLkwvjc

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) September 29, 2023

In an upset, MOUZ eliminated G2 from the ESL Pro League with a 2-1 victory.

They secured wins on Mirage (16-13) and Inferno (16-7) while narrowly losing on Ancient (14-16).

G2 entered the match as favourites but were plagued by disappointing individual performances.

Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov struggled in the second half of Mirage, Nikola “NiKo” Kova? had a tough time on Inferno, and G2’s renowned mechanical skill didn’t fully materialize.

The Mirage map started poorly for MOUZ, falling behind 1-7 while G2 dominated. However, MOUZ made a comeback, narrowing the score to 7-8 at halftime.

G2 struggled in the second half, and MOUZ secured a 16-13 victory.

On G2’s pick of Ancient, they took an early lead, but MOUZ mounted a comeback.

The game appeared to be firmly in control of G2 until MOUZ rallied late, bringing the score close.

However, NiKo’s exceptional performance with a three-kill clutch secured the win for G2 and forced a decider.

In the decider on Inferno, MOUZ took control early on, limiting G2 to just one round in the second half.

MOUZ secured a convincing 16-7 victory to seal the series win in their favour.

ádám “torzsi” Torzsás, speaking after the game, expressed excitement about their upcoming rematch with ENCE, the team that defeated MOUZ in the IEM Dallas grand final earlier in the year.

He acknowledged the challenge posed by ENCE and the tough playoff bracket ahead.

ENCE will go into the semi-final as slight favourites with most esports betting sites at -138.89 with MOUZ being marked as +100 outsiders.

.@mousesports are going to the SEMI FINALS by taking down @G2CSGO 2-1 at #ESLProLeague Season 18

16-13 Mirage
14-16 Ancient
16-7 Inferno pic.twitter.com/I9J9AadW0W

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) September 29, 2023

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ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), a prominent player in the esports and video game entertainment industry, revealed its ambitious 2024 program for the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) for Counter-Strike.

The announcement comes just as anticipation builds for the forthcoming launch of Counter-Strike 2, which has fans, players, and industry partners are excited for fresh changes, additions, and returning features.

The ESL Pro Tour aims to streamline the competitive Counter-Strike landscape, consolidating various ESL tournaments into a single, dedicated circuit. The tour is designed with multiple tiers of competition, including EPT Championship, EPT Masters, and EPT Challenger.

These varying levels offer a “clear and consistent opportunity” for players across the skill spectrum—from aspiring amateurs to established professionals—to compete and hone their abilities.

With these changes, ESL FACEIT Group is positioning itself and the ESL Pro Tour as the cornerstone of what promises to be an electrifying year for Counter-Strike esports.

Whether you’re a player striving to break into the professional ranks or a fan eager for gripping tournament action, the 2024 ESL Pro Tour is shaping up to be an essential part of the global esports calendar.

ESL Pro Tour Masters and Championships dates

The ESL Pro Tour has definitely got some events that are more lucrative, draw more fan engagement and feature better players. The Counter-Strike events on the ESL Pro Tour that you should not miss include:

IEM Katowice 2024: January 31st – February 11th
IEM China 2024: April 8th – April 14th
ESL Pro League Season 19: April 23rd – May 12th
IEM Dallas 2024: May 27th – June 2nd
IEM Cologne 2024: August 7th – August 18th
ESL Pro League Season 20: September 3rd – September 22nd
IEM Fall 2024: October 7th – October 13th

ESL Challanger events dates

The ESL Challenger Events are the tier dwon from the Pro Tour, but many of the top players will be partaking in these tournaments during the year. ESL Challenger events are also a fertile breeding ground for the top players, with young guns generally coming through this pathway. Key dates for ESL Challenger events in 2024 include:

ESL Challenger #56: April 26th – April 28th
ESL Challenger #57: June 14th – June 16th
ESL Challenger Atlanta: October 4th – October 6th
ESL Challenger #59: November 22nd – November 24th

Locations for ESL Challenger #56, #57, and #59 are yet to be announced, but these should be finalised shortly.

There are also the online ESL Challenger Leagues, which run worldwide over several months. Key dates for 2024 online ESL Challenger events include:

ESL Challenger League Season 47: February – June
ESL Challenger League Season 48: July – November

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Holmlund is being looked at under the Anti-Corruption Code which outlaws esports players from gambling on any esports, including matches they are involved on.

According to ESIC, there’s compelling evidence suggesting Holmlund placed bets on matches he was actively participating in between March 27 and 28. But that’s not the end of it.

On March 31, Holmlund allegedly went a step further, wagering against his own team in a game. From March 29 to May 1, he’s believed to have placed 17 bets across various CS:GO fixtures.

These transgressions were allegedly committed while Holmlund was competing under the banner of the Swedish esports powerhouse, Godsent, during events like BetBoom Playlist Urbanistic and IEM Dallas 2023 Europe Closed Qualifier.

Owing to these grave allegations, ESIC has temporarily benched Holmlund from participating in any tournaments aligned with ESIC members. The exact duration of this suspension remains undisclosed, with a comprehensive statement from ESIC expected in October 2023, post-investigation.

After receiving a Notice of Charge on August 30, Holmlund contested the allegations. This spurred ESIC into a deeper probe, and although the suspension remains intact, Holmlund has a window till October 6 to present any new evidence for consideration.

In a statement from ESIC, they emphasised the seriousness of the charges.

“Considering the gravity of the allegations, Mr. Holmlund’s current active participation in an ESIC-affiliated event, and being satisfied with the compelling evidence presented in its further investigation, ESIC has elected to suspend Mr Holmlund via a Rejection Order Notice,” it says.

The intricate investigation procedure includes a thorough analysis of digital imprints such as IP addresses, device specifics, and browser data; meticulous scrutiny of individual bets placed during the mentioned events; and a deep dive into betting trends concerning his professional engagement, among other aspects.

ESIC, established in 2015, is a non-profit entity that has been striving to uphold the sanctity of esports. With partnerships spanning betting firms, event organizers, governmental agencies, and other esports key players, its influence is noteworthy.

GODSENT, while commenting on the situation on the social media platform X said they were co-operating with ESIC’s investigation.

“Joel’s suspension from Godsent followed us being informed of serious allegations relating to match-fixing and betting in between the 27th of March and the 1st of May, on our own and other matches, coming from relevant parties in the industry,” they wrote.

“As soon as we retrieved the information we immediately suspended Joel from play. Then we have been closely collaborating with ESIC in helping them build a case and collecting evidence in collaboration with third parties.”

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It was revealed over the weekend that Team Bliss had acquired fellow Aussie outfit The Chiefs Esports Club, in a move that will increase the exposure of both on the international stage.

While the two teams will merge and share resources, both will continue to operate as individual brands, keeping both Team Bliss and The Chiefs names active.

“We couldn’t be more excited about what this merger means for the future of Oceanic esports,” Chief Operating Officer of Team Bliss Brendan Harms said.

More: Esports betting in Australia

“By merging the strengths of two premier organisations, our goal is to make a more substantial mark on the global scene and provide Oceanic esports enthusiasts a formidable team to support.

“Collaborating with the exceptional management team from Chiefs to contribute to the broader OCE industry is indeed a realised dream.”

What is surprising about the merger, is that Team Bliss is the newer entity, having only launched in 2019 while their more senior partner began in 2014 and has had more success globally.

Team Bliss has steadily built its name on the regional esports scene, especially with notable successes in PUBG and Rainbow Six: Siege. By 2023, the team marked its presence in the League of Legends Circuit Oceania (LCO).

On the other hand, The Chiefs’ League of Legends squad clinched victory at the LCO Split 2 in June.

Both teams said discussions about the merger had been ongoing and that they had nurtured a professional relationship over the past year. Their collaboration was evident when they jointly worked with Logitech G for the debut of the Logitech G Pro X2 headset.

While the details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, both parties mentioned that future plans regarding teams or titles to compete in are still under discussion.

In the wake of the merger, Nick Bobir, who held the dual roles of Managing Director for The Chiefs and CEO of ICON ESPORTS (which had acquired The Chiefs in 2021), has resigned.

To ensure a smooth transition, Chris Smith, founder of Business in Games and BIGR AI, has stepped in as an advisor. He aims to provide insights for commercialisation and drive growth over the next two years. Additionally, Mat Jessep from Game Legal will collaborate with the newly merged entity to guarantee its flourishing future.

Australia has a thriving esports scene, including all esports betting sites, featuring markets on Team Bliss and The Chiefs Esports.

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Endpoint and MiBR will clash on Saturday in the ThunderPick World Championship 2023 EU Series #2 quarterfinal, marking the first meeting between the two squads since July 2021. According to the latest CS:GO betting odds, MiBR are expected to win, which isn’t surprising.

MiBR have not accomplished much outside of a few regional tournaments this season, but the Brazilians looked solid at ESL Pro League Season 18 last week when they defeated MOUZ (2-1), Monte (2-1) and Evil Geniuses (2-1). Their run ended with a loss against Monte in the Group B lower bracket final; however, MiBR still outperformed the expectations and left a good impression.

Endpoint have not attended the ESL Pro League Season 18 or appeared in a single S-Tier tournament this season. But that wouldn’t mean much had Endpoint at least accomplished something in the few lesser events they competed in. They have not.

Despite being 7-2 from their last nine outings, Endpoint have struggled against lesser opponents (1-2 vs Raptors, 17-19 vs Into the Breach).
MiBR are known to disappoint, but they’ve found some traction recently, which suggests that they should do just fine against the struggling Endpoint.

In June and July, Team Spirit parted ways with Pavel “s1ren” Ogloblin, Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov, and Robert “Patsi” Isyanov. Still, despite losing some of their top players, Spirit have looked solid in recent games.

At the end of August, Spirit won Dunav Party LAN a week later made it through RES Eastern European Masters: Fall 2023 – Open Qualifier #2. Ahead of their clash with 9z, Spirit are 11-1 with just one loss against Zero Tenacity (0-2) from the first RES Eastern European Masters: Fall 2023 open qualifiers.

9z Team looked great before the summer break, but they’ve not shown much since August, with two early exits from TG Masters Fall 2023 (seventh-eighth) and CCT North Europe Series #7 (ninth-16th). They have won the opening three games at Thunderpick World Championship 2023: European Series #2, but 9z Team have only beaten MASONIC, Preasy, and Bad News Eagles, which is hardly something to write home about.

As the latest CS:GO betting odds suggest, Team Spirit should win, and it’s hard to argue with that. The teams have similar map pool, and Spirit have a better win rate on every map 9z Team like to play, except Anubis (57% v 67%). Considering Team Spirit had to play stronger opponents, those figures are far more impressive.

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Here are our free Preasy Esport v Anonymo esports tips and predictions:

Preasy Esport v Anonymo Esports

Match odds: Preasy (-250); Anonymo (+175)

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Our expert Counter-Strike commentators have assessed the various markets available on the EPL and found these to be the best options for punters.

Free EPL Pro League tips for September 11 and September 12, 2023:

PGE Turow v Espionage tips

Date & time: September 11, 6.30pm AEST
Match odds: PGE Turow (+333); Espionage (-500)

Singularity v Anonymo prediction

Date & time: September 12, 8.30pm AEST
Match odds: Singularity (+225); Anonymo (-303.03)

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