IEM Rio Major Pickem Predictions

• Fnatic
• GamerLegion
• Bad News Eagles
• Cloud9
• Vitality
• BIG
• MOUZ
• Outsiders
• OG
• 9z
• FURIA
• 00NATION
• Imperial
• Evil Geniuses
• IHC
• Grayhound

IEM Rio Major is almost upon us and for fans looking to make their pickem predictions, Phoebe Dua takes a look at the teams and players to watch in the Challengers Stage.

Fnatic

Fnatic have been going through changes over the last few years, but qualifying for the IEM Rio Major marks the organisation’s first appearance at a CS:GO Major since IEM Katowice 2019.

It would be a huge surprise to see Fnatic go winless even with the unpredictability of this IEM Rio Challengers Stage. The name value of the organisation that has seen three Major wins remains high even with a roster that is still largely making names for themselves as individuals too.

Player to Watch: roeJ

Alongside his former Copenhagen Flames teammate nicoodoz, the addition of the two Danes has relit the fire within Fnatic. Boasting a 1.17 HLTV rating so far this year, roeJ has been the standout performer of the squad.

It is worth noting that the lowest ranked teammates are both FASHR and mezii at 1.09, indicating the entire team is in good form and any player could be the one to make the difference in key matches.

GamerLegion

Perhaps not as well-known as other teams attending IEM Rio, GamerLegion has had scores of impressive players pass through the ranks over the years, such as Ex6TenZ, dennis and ScreaM, as well as respectable results that secured their spot in Brazil with their current lineup.

In the Road to Rio 2022 European RMR A, GamerLegion took the reigning Major champions to over 50 rounds on Mirage and only losing by a narrow overtime margin. The most notable of results came when GamerLegion put a premature stop to G2 Esports’ Major run, causing the organisation to miss a Major for the first time in its history.

Player to Watch: acoR

As a strong performer against top 10 teams, acoR has been delivering damage and impact throughout 2022. This has been his best-performing year in his professional career so far and at IEM Rio against some big names, more strong showings will be needed from the MOUZ AWPer to see them make a deep run.

Bad News Eagles

While Bad News Eagles were formerly an orgless collective, they are now flying high as their own organisation. Bad News Eagles garnered significant community support at the PGL Antwerp Major 2022 who were happy to support their underdog story.

A disappointing end in the Legends Stage of Belgium saw the Kosovar roster outclassed by better opposition before and heading into Rio, Bad News Eagles are a risky option in pick’ems and bets alike. Compared to the majority of teams at the Major, BNE is more of an unknown factor as they have been relatively quiet since Antwerp.

Player to Watch: juanflatroo

Barring one event, juanflatroo has posted 1+ ratings at every event Bad News Eagles has played in heading into IEM Rio. While it was sinnopsyy who finished with the best rating when BNE won Tipsport Cup Prague 2022, juanflatroo stepped up in the Grand Final when the pressure was highest.

Cloud9

The former Gambit roster has been under the Cloud9 banner since April, but there have been plenty of rainy days for the team since. Once seen as contenders for the Major title, Cloud9’s LAN form specifically has been called into question, struggling to impress or deliver in spite of a formidable set of young players and a Major champion in the famous C9 jerseys.

Major magic has struck Cloud9 in the past, but with how good the lineup has shown they are capable of being, it isn’t a miracle that’s needed so much as a nudge back on track.

Player to Watch: sh1ro

The duo of sh1ro and Ax1le has long been Cloud9’s x-factor, but with AWPing looking set to be a hotly contested battle between all teams present at IEM Rio, sh1ro being the consistent star and beating opposing snipers will be important throughout Cloud9’s Major run.

Vitality

While the IEM Rio Major approaches, it would be surprising for Team Vitality to not also be looking forward to the BLAST.tv Paris Major next year. As the only organisation fielding any French players and with their headquarters also in the French capital, the pressure to deliver is greater than ever.

ZywOo and apEX will have even more to play for alongside their Danish comrades as a strong showing in Rio would be a huge step in securing a slot for Vitality in Paris. Avoiding open qualifiers that will see G2 Esports in the mix and had Astralis on the ropes multiple times this time around is not to be shrugged off.

Vitality are one of the heavy favourites of the group, with many expecting, or maybe hoping, for a 3-0 for them in Challengers Stage, but anything less than a Legends Stage finish would be an upset on multiple levels.

Player to Watch: ZywOo

ZywOo is not just the best player on Vitality, but one of the CS:GO greats even though his career is still only just beginning. Unburdened by the emotional volatility of other French stars of old, ZywOo carries the hopes of Vitality and French Counter-Strike on his shoulders in 2022 and for the foreseeable future.

BIG

BIG have faced more than a few small problems in recent times. Having to attend IEM Rio with a stand-in from their academy roster was not what the German organisation would have asked for coming into the second Major of 2022.

Four of the seven maps in the Active Duty Pool are at a 50% or below winrate for BIG right now, with Dust 2 (61.1%) and Mirage (52%) being the only strong options. Going into early Challengers Stage best-of-ones in a weakened state, there may well be trouble ahead.

Player to Watch: tabseN

BIG’s main man tabseN will have a lot to do at IEM Rio. While syrsoN can be relied upon to deliver as long as he has a scoped rifle in his hands, tabseN’s leading and rifling will be put to the test. Having recommitted to BIG until 2027, the need to not only perform well individually but lead BIG to greatness in a suboptimal scenario will certainly be on tabseN’s mind throughout the Major.

MOUZ

MOUZ used to be a staple of every CS:GO Major, but the last few years have seen more sporadic appearances for the organisation. Whether by luck or design, the rise of their academy team, MOUZ NXT, provided a plethora of upcoming stars ready to be plucked up to take a spot on the main squad.

While MOUZ NXT has lost some of its spark, the main team looks better than ever with IEM Rio looming. For three of these players though, it will be their major debuts and one of the biggest crowds they will have experienced so far in their MOUZ jerseys.

Player to Watch: frozen

First playing in MOUZ alongside veterans like chrisJ and karrigan, honing his talents alongside ropz and woxic, frozen was always meant to be Slovakia’s next big prospect. Now as the longest tenured player on the MOUZ lineup, knowing what it takes to be a rising star himself, frozen’s individual performance and unique position within the team means he is a piece of the MOUZ puzzle that should not be underrated.

Outsiders

Outsiders being at IEM Rio 2022 might surprise some people. Not because of anything to do with their players, but that Virtus.pro had not been reinstated as the visible branding behind the team. In other Valve-sanctioned events in Dota 2, the Outsiders tag has been dropped but CS:GO remains bearless for now.

Whether external factors will have an impact on the team now more so than previously is yet to be seen and is unlikely. Even now, having signed fresh talent to replace YEKINDAR and buster, this new-look Outsiders will still be the same old by-the-round brawlers that they always have been.

Player to Watch: Jame

While the passive in-game leader and AWPer is not the highest-rated player on Outsiders, his style of play defines the entirety of Outsiders’ strategies and game plans. If there was a team to bet over on, it is always them as a result of frequent saving and less clutch attempts than your average team. Jame is usually alives at the end of a round regardless of its outcome, but if this does change at any time, expect Outsiders to be a very different beast.

OG

Where G2 failed, OG conquered with nexa, thrown from G2 earlier this year, perhaps grateful to have been given the reins in this OG squad that has finally qualified for their first Major since forming in 2019.

On paper, the names on OG pale in comparison to the debut of the organisation into Counter-Strike, yet the results have been more impressive than anyone could have hoped for. You would struggle to find many calling an early exit for OG in the IEM Rio Challengers Stage.

Player to Watch: degster

The signing of degster was never meant to be, as the Russian sniper was only meant to stand in for mantuu, but after performing well, he became a permanent member of the OG lineup. Heading into IEM Rio 2022, degster is yet to have a negative rated event this year even if his numbers slowed during the RMR. If the usual degster lands in Rio, other teams might not be able to keep up with him.

9z

9z Team might not be Brazilian, but there will be huge support for 9z across South America if they are able to deliver in Rio. With two Uruguayans, a Chilean, an Argentinian and a Brazilian on the roster, there really is something for everyone on 9z.

It is fair to say 9z are a true dark horse pick, having shown glimmers of real promise after finishing third in the Americas RMR over all of the Brazilian teams still in the competition. With an opening match against GamerLegion, a good start in the best-of-one games could see 9z make it to Legends Stage of IEM Rio without being too much of a surprise.

Player to Watch: nqz

The AWPer for 9z is not just one of their best players, but is the Brazilian representative on the roster. Playing in front of a home crowd should see nqz step up for the most important games of his career.

He is far from the only Brazilian AWPer at IEM Rio, but nqz could make a huge statement if he can outperform legends like FalleN to get 9z through to Legends Stage.

FURIA

If there is one team that would be a huge upset to not see go far in IEM Rio 2022, it would be FURIA. As Brazil’s best team for several years now since the fall of the iconic 2016 lineup that moved from Luminosity to SK to MIBR, it would be a cruel twist of fate for FURIA to not go all the way to playoffs.

Big names might headline their domestic Brazilian rival teams, but FURIA have shown more consistency and international capabilities than any other in recent times.

Player to Watch: KSCERATO

The last three events for FURIA have seen KSCERATO have a resurgence, putting up big numbers at IEM Cologne, ESL Pro League Season 16 and the Americas RMR. While many expected a cleaner qualifying route for FURIA, KSCERATO was putting in the work to carry them over the finish line in the end.

00NATION

00NATION might be a team of five, but the real focus is always going to fall on one specific player in Rio.

With coldzera being a back-to-back best player in the world in 2016 and 2017, double Major MVP and being crucial in securing Brazilian CS’s spot at the top of the world, now would be the best time for him to show exactly what had Thorin dubbing him ‘the Brazilian Terminator’.

Like in previous teams, coldzera doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting, supported by long-term historic teammate TACO, 00NATION has in fact had three out of four players surpass coldzera in terms of rating in 2022 so far.

Player to Watch: try

The Argentinian try, formerly of 9z also in attendance at IEM Rio, is the strongest part of the 00NATION lineup. In the battle of the big green, try might not have as much AWP experience as others in Challengers Stage, but his high skill ceiling and being a lesser known sniper might play to his advantage. A wise AWPer once said that the hardest players to AWP against are those you know the least…

Imperial

If a Brazilian team led by the Brazilian Godfather himself doesn’t make it through Challengers Stage in the IEM Major Rio, there will be more than just heartbreak for the players and the fans.

An opening match against Vitality will be a tall order, but later meeting a team like BIG, who are struggling in terms of their map pool, or some of the likely 0-3 candidates in IHC and Grayhound could allow Imperial to take important wins on the path to Legends Stage sooner rather than later.

Player to Watch: fer

One of Brazil’s legendary figures, fer was arT before playing aggressively was cool. Not only is fer’s explosive playstyle iconic, it has been securing victories for Imperial across 2022. Old habits die hard too, with fer putting up his best numbers (1.29 rating) against Top 5 teams. The return of 2016 or 2017 fer isn’t entirely beyond his capabilities and with a home crowd giving their full support, it would be more surprising to not see fer and the entire Imperial roster hit a level not yet seen this year.

Evil Geniuses

It’s fair to say many people were surprised when Evil Geniuses went 3-0 to qualify for the IEM Rio Major via the Americas RMR.

Issues have plagued Evil Geniuses way before the Major, but the signing of vorborg as coach is the second example of Copenhagen Flames alumni adding fire to rosters in need at this Major.

Player to Watch: CeRq

Having weathered the storm of criticism levelled against Evil Geniuses, CeRq has a perfect change to redeem himself and show that he is able to not just smurf on North American teams, but perform at the highest level against all international opposition.

IHC

Unsure who to put 0-3 in your IEM Rio Major Pick’ems? You’ll be with 99% of fans if you have IHC or Grayhound in that spot. Historically at Majors, the teams from the Asian RMRs and Minors have struggled to progress beyond the Challengers Stage, instead usually falling without even taking a series.

IHC have one main thing going for them: they previously convincingly took down Grayhound in the RMR, which might be repeated if the two meet in 0-1 or 0-2 decider games.

Player to Watch: bLitz

With consistent performances throughout 2022 and being the top performer in the IEM Rio Major Asia RMR, bLitz is the player to watch for IHC. Teams underestimating what the Asia RMR players can do may well lead to some upsets in the server and for Diamond Coin hunters needing their 0-3 to secure points.

Grayhound

The return of Grayhound from the ashes of Renegades is a nice addition to the IEM Rio Major team list. Long gone is DickStacey, now the new age of Oceanic Counter-Strike is representing the region.

Unfortunately, it is more than likely that they are going to struggle to take maps off of most other teams at this Major. Nothing much has inspired confidence in The Boys so far, but crazier miracle runs have happened in the past. Never forget Quantum Bellator Fire.

Player to Watch: INS

The Australian rifler INS has been Grayhound’s top performer in 2022. He was the fifth-best player at the Asia RMR behind two IHC and two Rare Atom players. For Grayhound to defy the odds in Challengers Stage, INS stepping up and surpassing the levels shown by IHC could at least secure one win for his team and ruin pick’ems for thousands of non-believers.

Ready to make your predictions? Bet on the Rio Major with Midnite