Yessir – it’s the first big CSGO event in 2022! It’s finally here; Relog Media’s event is finally here and so are the odds for betting on Funspark ULTI! If you can’t wait to finally get your hands on some proper CSGO betting action, you’re at the right place. Let’s roll!
We are glad to announce our grand final starts from 18th Jan to 24th Jan. Eight teams @GambitEsports @astralisgroup @Entropiqteam @FNATIC @BIGCLANgg @ExtraSaltGG @k23_esports @EcstaticCS will fight for the champion! Who would you think will be the last one stand? pic.twitter.com/wP49IdnytR
— Funspark (@FunsparkCSGO) January 14, 2022
Key Facts about This CSGO Event
- Funspark ULTI is the first somewhat notable event of the year. It starts tomorrow, January 18th, and will feature eight teams, four of which belong to the upper echelons of competitive CSGO.
- This is a one-stage tournament, featuring a double-elimination bracket packed with bo3 matches. The grand finals are set for a bo5, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking of betting on Funspark ULTI this week.
- There’s $250,000 in prize money, quite the sum considering the fact Relog Media aren’t really an AAA CSGO event organizer. With such a hefty prize pool, we’re expecting AAA production quality too. They better deliver!
- The winner of Funspark ULTI will not only get $150,000 in prize money but also a direct spot on Funspark ULTI 2022 event. The same goes for runner-up too, with a lower prize set at $50,000.
Betting on Funspark ULTI | Teams to Keep an Eye On
Four teams have gotten direct invitations to this event. They are as follows:
- Gambit
- Astralis
- Fnatic
- BIG
Obviously, these are the top four candidates to take the title too, with the qualified teams only serving as consistency checks early on into the bracket. Let’s try to figure out which of these teams has the best chances of winning the $150,000 grand prize!
Gambit
Gambit are obviously the first name on the team sheet here. According to HLTV rankings, they are the second-best team in the world right now, right after Natus Vincere. It’s not that surprising, really, considering they finished 2021 on a strong note by finishing second on BLAST Premier World Final, winning V4 Future Sports Festival, and ending up with a semifinal spot on the PGL Major.
Prior to that, Gambit were almost always finishing in grand finals of major tournaments. They finished outside of the top four on just four occasions all year long, which tells you all you need to know about their consistency. Hobbit, Sh1ro, and Ax1Le were absolutely amazing last year. They were fuming with confidence, playing like never before, and they’ll definitely be hoping to transition their form to 2022. It won’t be an easy task, though. But, if they can snowball starting from this tournament, they should be able to get there eventually.
If you’re thinking of betting on Funspark ULTI this week, investing in Gambit should be a fairly safe bet. Gambit to win outright is currently at +100, which offers solid value. Their opening match against Extra Salt, though, not so much. In the end, it’s all on you to decide which bet you’ll invest in.
Astralis
The legendary Astralis is no more! Only Xyp9x and gla1ve remain from their legendary roster that won four CSGO Major titles. The remnants of that roster are now a part of Vitality and will be hoping to start a new era this year.
They finished their puzzle in November by acquiring blameF, k0nfig, and coach ave. It’s not the strongest roster out there, but it should be just enough to clinch spots on A tier events and contest for titles here and there. As for their Funspark ULTI odds, at +350, this Astralis team offers solid value. I’m not saying you should definitely bet on them to win this tournament outright, but following their bracket path might be worth your time.
They’re set to kick things off against K23 and will be interested to see how they square off against an in-form CIS team. If they can pass that test with flying mark, we could be in for a great tournament with four top-notch title contenders!
Fnatic
Next up, Fnatic! The Swedish team is miles away from their legendary days. They keep mixing things up roster-wise and tactics-wise, but nothing seems to be working out for them. They’re always near the top of the food chain, but fail to come in touching distance of the big boys.
In late 2021, they had somewhat of a successful run, be it on tier B events. They won DreamHack Open November by beating BIG in the grand finals, and successfully connected that title with REPUBLEAGUE Season 2 just a few days later.
Smooya’s arrival in mid-October definitely brought Fnatic to a new level. It’s still nowhere near their 2015 roster, but it’s inching closer to the big boys, one tournament at a time. They’re not going to have an easy job here, though. They’re opening up against BIG; they are the favorites, but we’ve seen them falter from that position numerous times already.
BIG
Last but not least, BIG! Even though their form dropped last year, the Germans are still a fairly confident team and will be looking to get something out of Funspark ULTI. They’re not aiming straight for the title, that’d be silly considering the competition, but a top-four finish is on their minds for sure!
Good thing regarding BIG is the fact they kept their roster intact… for the most part. Gade left just two days after Christmas, with faveN set as the replacement. We’re yet to see him in a proper competitive environment with his new team. Back in his Sprout days, he showed off a solid rifling caliber… though he’ll now be up against AAA teams which will show us what he’s really made of.
BIG to defeat Fnatic in the opening round is currently at +157. It’s a solid value, considering all circumstances, that has to be said. However, keep in mind that this is a bo3 and BIG might not have their map pool setup perfectly polished yet. I’m not trying to sway you away from betting on Funspark ULTI, I’m just stating the cold hard facts!
They’re currently ranked as the ninth-best team in the world, higher than both Fnatic and BIG, and are likely to fancy their chances here. It’s just something to keep in mind, especially if you’ll be betting on Funspark ULTI in the coming days.
Outright Betting on Funspark ULTI
Outright winner betting options for this event weren’t available up until the organizers announced the four invitees. Since then, pretty much all CSGO bookmakers included outright winner betting on Funspark ULTI among their esports offers.
If this bet sparks your imagination, here are the odds followed by a brief overview:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Gambit | +100 |
| Fnatic | +200 |
| Astralis | +350 |
| BIG | +1800 |
| Entropiq | +1800 |
| ECSTATIC | +2000 |
| K23 | +4000 |
| Extra Salt | +10000 |
As mentioned earlier, Gambit are the rightful favorites coming into this tournament. They’re currently the second-best team in the world, right behind their CIS brethren in Natus Vincere. Sh1ro, Ax1Le and the company had a great season last year – if they can kick things off on the right foot here, I’m certain they’re going to have another very similar campaign in 2022!
Even though the value might not be on their side, I still reckon Gambit are the only viable option here. They’re going to win the first tournament of the year, whether you like it or not.
And there you have it, fellas! That’s it from our guide for betting on Funspark ULTI. It’s going to feature a solid mix of AAA teams coupled with some up-and-coming contenders. Relog Media’s showcase event will be a great way to kick the season off. Fingers crossed it serves as a great intro for our 2022 CSGO betting campaign!
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