Heroic and Cloud9 will compete for the right to get the first ticket to the playoffs of IEM Rio Major 2022. Moreover, both teams deserve it, as they showed a confident start here, in the “legends”.
However, we must admit that the Russian team went through fire, water and copper labors, because on its way it turned out to be stronger than FaZe Clan and NAVI, albeit with the same score of 16:14.
On the contrary, Heroic beat Outsiders and fnatic, who are clearly a level below. Still, I am inclined to consider Cloud9 the favorite, since the team has clearly surpassed itself and finally got stronger in this championship.
Form Heroic
The seventh team in the world ranking performed quite well at the recent IEM Road to Rio 2022 Europe RMR B, although Heroic found their defeat there too.
Then the Danish team went to BLAST Premier Fall Showdown 2022 Europe, where they got three confident victories and naturally became the winner of the tournament.
Now Heroic has arrived at IEM Rio Major 2022, where they first beat Outsiders and then defeated fnatic. In general, while the team looks very worthy, although the Danes have not yet declared themselves as the favorite - there were no corny full-fledged competitors on the way.
Heroic's latest results:
- Victory over ECSTATIC with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over Sangal with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over Astralis with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over the Outsiders with a score of 16:9.
- Victory over fnatic with a score of 16:2.
Best Heroic Maps:
- Ancient - 100% win rate.
- Nuke - 86% of wins.
- Inferno - 82% of wins.
- Mirage - 62% of wins.
- Vertigo - 50% of wins.
Don't forget that the Danish team is still refusing the Dust 2 map.
Form Cloud9
The fifth team in the world ranking had a terrible start at IEM Rio Major 2022, as they lost to fnatic and Grayhound Gaming on the first game day.
However, Cloud9 managed to straighten out its position further, having obtained three victories over Imperial Esports, Evil Geniuses and GamerLegion in a row, and also made it to the “legends”.
Here, groove's wards extended their winning streak, first defeating FaZe Clan, and then making a cool comeback in the game against NAVI. And after such a Cloud9 can really believe in their own strength.
Latest Cloud9 results:
- Victory over Imperial Esports with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over Evil Geniuses with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over GamerLegion with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over FaZe Clan with a score of 16:14.
- Victory over Natus Vincere with a score of 16:14.
Best Cloud9 Maps:
- Overpass - 88% of wins.
- Mirage - 83% of wins.
- Ancient - 75% of wins.
- Dust 2 - 67% of wins.
- Vertigo - 60% of wins.
In turn, the Russian team continues to refuse the Nuke card.
Heroic – Cloud9 meeting statistics
The teams played four games last season:
- Cloud9 won at IEM Katowice 2021 with a score of 2:1.
- Heroic's victory at ESL Pro League Season 13 with a score of 3:2.
- Cloud9 won at BLAST Premier Spring Showdown 2021 with a score of 2:1.
- Cloud9 won the BLAST Premier World Final 2021 with a score of 2:0.
However, enough time has passed since then, and the Danes managed to make changes to their composition.
Prediction for the match Heroic — Cloud9
Here again, you will have to fall into subjectivity, otherwise both teams deserve victory. Yes, we can assume that we will see three cards, but how many similar situations played in the red.
To put it bluntly, the Russian team managed to acclimatize to the championship, having got out after an unsuccessful start. And now the guys are doing incredible things, pulling match after match.
Therefore, in this case, I would recommend betting on the victory of the Cloud9 team.
