Intel Extreme Masters Katowice is still going strong! The playoffs are live, with just several teams left in the equation. Remember, IEM Katowice ends on February 12th and we’ll have just ten days to go until the next big CSGO tournament hits the shelves.
As the title suggests, I’m referring to the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 17. Malta is where the action will be at. February 22nd is the start date, while March 26th is the end date. More than a month of highly competitive CSGO action… where do I sign up?
Where to Start Betting on ESL Pro League Season 17?
Even though the IEM Katowice betting craze has taken full control of online CSGO betting markets, bookmakers have already started offering ESL Pro League Season 17 odds as well. At the moment, we only have a couple of futures at our disposal. Mind you, the odds are bound to change with IEM Katowice results, especially ones that revolve around the few remaining teams.
But, which esports betting sites should you choose for betting on CSGO? Well, a handful of betting platforms come to mind, but the most notable specimens are surely the likes of Betway and BetOnline. They always have deep esports coverage and some of the fairest odds out there. Give them a try during ESL Pro League Season 17. Who knows… perhaps they’ll sweep you off your feet!
ESL Pro League Season 17 Odds
What to expect in terms of the odds? Well, as stated earlier, they’re already available despite IEM Katowice still being in full flow. As far as outright winner bets go, here’s what you’ll find:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| G2 | +325 |
| Faze | +425 |
| Heroic | +475 |
| Cloud9 | +550 |
| Vitality | +600 |
| Natus Vincere | +700 |
| Outsiders | +900 |
| FURIA | +1000 |
| Astralis | +1200 |
| Liquid | +1400 |
Please note that these odds are bound to change, especially after the end of IEM Katowice.
On top of the outrights, esports bookmakers also offer a ton of additional future bets ahead of the ESL Pro League Season 17 kickoff. We’re referring to the following:
- To reach the final
- Region of the winner
- Group (A/B/C/D) winner
Tournament Format
The tournament format is quite simple. It’s the typical ESL-backed two-phase competition consisting of a group stage plus playoffs.
Group Stage
The group stage kicks off on Wednesday, February 22nd. It’s set to feature four triple-elimination groups, each with eight teams. There won’t be a mixture of bo1s and bo3s here. Instead, we’ll only see bo3s, from start to finish.
The qualification will go down like this:
- Winners of all four groups automatically qualify for the quarterfinals
- Second-place teams qualify for the ro12 as high seeds
- Third and fourth-place teams qualify for the ro16 as high/low seeds, respectively
Here’s a look at all four groups and their respective participants:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outsiders | Heroic | Faze Clan | Team Liquid |
| IHC Esports | Movistar Riders | Rooster | Rare Atom |
| MIBR | BIG | paiN Gaming | ATK |
| Fnatic | Complexity | Ninjas in Pyjamas | ENCE |
| Cloud9 | Imperial Esports | OG | Team Spirit |
| Evil Geniuses | FURIA Esports | 00 Nation | Astralis |
| G2 Esports | SAW | Grayhound | forZe |
| Eternal Fire | MOUZ | Team Vitality | Natus Vincere |
Playoffs
The playoffs cut right to the chase. There’s no more room for error once your team reaches the playoffs. The group stage offered two mistakes and teams could still get away with it. However, the playoffs are set up as a single-elimination bracket which means one loss and you’re out.
The grand final is reserved for March 26th. It’s set for a grandiose best-of-five encounter, whereas all other playoff rounds will be played as bo3s.
ESL Pro League Season 17 Predictions | Key Participants
32 teams are set to participate on the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 17 event. Let’s focus on the six most notable contenders and see what they’re all about coming into the Malta spectacle!
G2
G2 are enjoying themselves out there. They’ve had a successful finish to 2022 and managed to kickstart 2023 off with a banger. First off, they took control of the BLAST Premier Spring regular season by qualifying straight to the finals. Plus, they’re already through to the IEM Katowice semifinals.
Their core is finally starting to run circles around the opposition. They are practically unbeatable on Inferno and Nuke. Not to mention the fact both m0NESY and NiKo are finally hitting their stride and turning into raid bosses no matter who’s on the receiving end.
G2 will open EPL 17 against Eternal Fire in what should be a comfortable win. But, let’s not write the Turks off just yet since, after all, they have XANTARES in their ranks. But, if no one manages to stop G2 at IEM Katowice, I wouldn’t be surprised if they have another title run in Malta as well.
Faze
Even though Faze Clan had a bit of a mishap in Katowice, they’re still regarded as one of the most in-form CSGO teams out there. They have a superb core, a deep map pool, and superstar individuals in ropz and broky who are capable of singlehandedly winning rounds… on a good day.
But, if Faze Clan doesn’t get a clean win against Rooster, they might start doubting themselves once again. If this happens, their inconsistency issues might resurface and bring forth the good old choke-prone Faze Clan we all know oh so very well.
I’m not trying to bash on broky and the co… I just don’t think they’re the ideal team to bet on as far as outright winner bets are concerned.
Heroic
Another entry, another consistent team that’s still going strong in Katowice. In fact, G2 and Heroic emerged as the group stage winners which pushed them straight to the semifinals. Now they’re waiting for the quarterfinal matches to finish.
Disregarding the final result, Heroic can be proud of their performances in Poland. They were quick to assert dominance and show off their true might on several maps. Their map pool is growing larger and larger with each passing event.
Their consistency is unparalleled, and I expect them to justify the flattering title of one of the main favorites coming into the seventeenth season of ESL Pro League.
Cloud9
Cloud9 finished the year poorly with several catastrophic outings. But, now that they’ve acquired buster and benched inters, people seem to be confident in their ability to contest for titles at major events. However, I really can’t see them doing anything notable in Malta.
Buster will bring an extra level of security to their gameplay, but I reckon they’ll need much more than that to remain among the top ten CSGO teams out there.
Cloud9 will open its Malta campaign against EG. We all expect them to win it, which would put them up against the better of G2 vs. Eternal Fire. If our assumptions are correct, C9 will have an immense task on their hands in the second round of EPL 17 group stage.
Natus Vincere
What’s going on with NaVi? They aren’t playing that poorly, but the results just aren’t there and their fans demand urgent change. Why is that so? Well, it has to do with the fact their fans got used to them winning each and every single event they attend.
Nowadays, they’re far from their past standards but can still cause headaches even to the strongest of teams. I guess that’s the perk of having S1mple among your ranks…
Mind you, NaVi are still in the IEM Katowice equations as they’re set to tackle Outsiders in the quarterfinals. It’s a solid result for them no matter how they play against their CIS brethren. However, anything but a resounding win would be a heartbreak for their fans.
Vitality
Last but not least – Team Vitality. Just like NaVi, Vitality are also still in the IEM Katowice discussion. They’re set to play against Team Liquid in the quarterfinals. The winner of that match will to up against G2 in the semis, which means an uphill struggle right from the off. ZywOo is still a godlike figure on the server, but the likes of Niko and m0NESY fit the same description.
Considering their recent campaigns and gameplay in general, I’ll dare to say that Vitality is back! In fact, according to the live ESL Pro League Season 17 odds, Vitality are among the top favorites to win the Malta spectacle. At +600, it’s difficult to argue with the value, really.
Should You Bet on ESL Pro League Season 17?
The final question that’s up for debate is – should you bet on ESL Pro League Season 17? Well, I’m afraid it all depends on how much you’ve already bet on in February. If you were a regular during IEM Katowice and you failed to rack up the green, I honestly suggest you take things a bit easier ahead of ESL Pro League Season 17.
But, then again, who am I to tell you what’s good for you, eh? After all, I already have my hands in several futures, both outright and group-based wagers. I don’t exactly have the moral high ground here, I’m afraid.
What are your thoughts on the available ESL Pro League Season 17 odds? Do you like what you see? If yes, which options seem like the best deals? Let us know in the comments section down below!
Until next time,
May the odds be in your favor!
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