The IEM Rio 2024 group stage concluded with surprises that shifted expectations. While top-tier teams like FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, and Eternal Fire didn’t make it to the playoffs, FURIA Esports and Heroic exceeded expectations, claiming their spots in the semifinals after dismantling favorites in this tournament.
Now, the focus shifts to the playoff stage, where Natus Vincere (NAVI) is set to face off against Virtus.Pro in what promises to be an exciting match. Can NAVI secure a place in the grand finals, or will Virtus.Pro continue the surprise trend and pull off another upset? Let’s dive into the analysis.
Virtus.Pro’s Road to Playoffs
Virtus.Pro is a challenging team to evaluate, particularly after the addition of Denis “electroNic” Sharipov. Although he was expected to help Virtus.Pro regain dominance, the team hasn’t had the success many anticipated.
Without a title win this year, Dzhami “Jame” Ali and his team have their work cut out for them against NAVI. Their path to the playoffs was relatively easy, overcoming teams like 9z, Astralis, and The MongolZ, who are not in their best form.
While Virtus.Pro may appear to be the underdog, a closer look at the statistics from IEM Rio 2024 reveals that NAVI is not in peak condition either, with some of the lowest numbers among the top teams in the tournament. This gives Virtus.Pro a legitimate chance to upset NAVI if they perform well.
NAVI’s Struggles Amidst Success
NAVI has been dominant this season with three trophies and six grand final appearances. However, this is their first event where they enter the playoffs as a low seed after a loss to Heroic in the advancement series.
NAVI’s dip in form was also apparent in their close match against Team Liquid, which went 24 rounds. Although they are still favorites, their performance has raised some doubts.
Key Stats Breakdown:
- Second-round conversion rate: NAVI’s conversion rate stands at just 55.6%, the lowest among the top 10 teams, while Virtus.Pro has a stronger rate of 66.7%.
- Multi-kills per round: NAVI averages only 0.70%, putting them near the bottom, alongside eliminated teams like 9z and G2.
- 5v4 win rate: NAVI’s 71% is significantly lower than Virtus.Pro’s nearly 80%.
- 4v5 conversion rate: NAVI struggles with a low 25% conversion rate, highlighting their difficulties in trading kills.
Despite these numbers, NAVI remains a formidable team with immense individual talent. The question is whether their star players can step up and carry the team through the playoffs.
Betting Prediction: NAVI to Win 2-1 in a Thriller
While Virtus.Pro’s stats may give them the edge on paper, NAVI has a history of stepping up on the big stage, especially when playing in front of a live audience. Each player on NAVI has the potential to deliver game-changing performances, which makes them dangerous in any matchup.
We expect this to be a close series, but ultimately, Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen and his squad should come out on top with a 2-1 victory, advancing to the semifinals where they’ll look to avenge their earlier loss to Heroic.
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