IEM Rio 2024 is heating up! After fierce competition in the 16-team group stage, the last six teams have advanced to the playoffs. This article will preview the playoff teams, predict the opening matches and share some betting insights.
Playoffs team preview
Natus Vincere (NAVI)
Despite their loss to G2 Esports in the BLAST Premier Fall Final 2024 and a 2-0 defeat to FURIA in the group stage, they remain the best team in the world, holding the #1 spot in the HLTV World Ranking. Over the past 3 months, this team has boasted an 80% win rate on Mirage, Ancient and Dust 2. Led by their young star AWPer, Ihor 'w0nderful' Zhdanov, with an impressive 1.20 rating during this period, they are on the hunt for their first IEM title in 2024.
FURIA
This well-known team is the best CS2 team in Brazil. With veterans Yuri 'yuurih' Boian and Kaike 'KSCERATO' Cerato, led by the legendary Brazilian AWPer Gabriel 'FalleN' Toledo, they dominated NAVI with a clean 2-0 sweep, with every team member earning a rating above 1 in that series. They have a 70% win rate on Nuke and Inferno over the last 3 months. Now, they are contending for the IEM Rio title in front of their home crowd and on their home soil.
Team Vitality
When speaking of this team, you can't overlook the name Mathieu 'ZywOo' Herbaut. As a 3-time Player of the Year in the past 5 years and boasting an incredible 1.38 rating over the last 3 months, ZywOo has been the driving force behind the team. Under his performance, they’ve secured a 100% win rate on Nuke during this period. Moreover, their 75% win rate on Dust 2, Mirage and Vertigo makes it nearly impossible for opponents to strategize in the map draft.
HEROIC
HEROIC has struggled to maintain their position among the top teams following roster changes in Fall 2023. Only René 'TeSeS' Madsen and Rasmus 'sjuush' Beck remain from the original lineup, while former members, including the renowned IGL Casper 'cadiaN' Møller, have joined their biggest Danish rivals, Astralis. Despite these challenges, HEROIC secured a 2-0 win against Astralis in the group stage, proving they are still the best Danish CS2 team. They also managed a clean 2-0 sweep over Vitality, coming back from a 2:10 deficit in one half. This team is heating up and poised to make a strong run in the playoffs.
MOUZ
Many may underestimate this team, but they took down FaZe Clan as underdogs. While they haven’t achieved many major victories in recent years and don't boast a high win rate on specific maps— their best being 66.7% on Inferno—four out of five players on their young roster have maintained a rating above 1 over the past three months. Their momentum and recent performances indicate that they are a dark horse rising in this tournament.
Virtus.pro
Led by the iconic IGL and AWPer Dzhami 'Jame' Ali, this team has retained much of their Major-winning roster from Outsiders, with only one player change. Back in 2022, Jame and his squad hoisted the Major trophy in Rio, with Jame himself earning the Major MVP title. Despite maintaining an average team rating, Virtus.pro has secured a 66.7% win rate on Mirage, Inferno and Anubis over the last three months. Last time in Rio, they were underdogs with few believing in them, but they pulled off the upset. Can they create another legacy run?
Playoffs opening matches preview
NAVI (1.265) vs. Virtus.pro (3.900)
NAVI had been showing dominant form until their recent 0-2 loss to FURIA. However, as the current #1 team in the world, they remain the favorites in this matchup. Virtus.pro, on the other hand, have gained momentum throughout the tournament, avenging their earlier loss to The MongolZ in the group stage. While NAVI at 1.265 on the money line is the safer play, Virtus.pro still have a chance to pull off an upset. A handicap +1.5 on Virtus.pro at 1.884 presents a high-risk, high-reward opportunity.
Vitality (1.478) vs. MOUZ (2.690)
We can expect a close match, with Vitality’s overall team firepower up against MOUZ’s recent momentum. This game might hinge on individual in-game performances. A safer play could be +1.5 on MOUZ at 1.520, while a money line bet on Vitality at 1.478 favors those confident that ZywOo will have a standout performance. However, live betting is recommended for this match, as it allows you to place bets with a clearer view of how the teams are performing in real-time.
Betting insights for the playoffs
As the IEM Rio 2024 playoffs approach, bettors should focus on teams displaying strong momentum, particularly those with consistent map control and standout individual performances. Teams like FURIA, playing in front of a home crowd, may carry an emotional edge, while favorites such as Vitality and NAVI, despite their early losses, remain formidable contenders with proven strategies. Pay close attention to map win rates—teams excelling on key maps like Mirage or Dust 2 have a tactical advantage in the draft phase. While upsets are possible, betting on teams with a balanced map pool and recent form is the safer play. Additionally, consider exploring handicap and total map markets in pre-game betting, as well as round handicap and total round markets during live matches. If possible, watch the live streams to better track team performance. This approach can help spread your risk across potential upsets rather than simply betting on the money line.
*Odds subject to change
