Analysis of Group C participants at ESL Pro League Season 16

Tomorrow, ESL Pro League Season 16 will present the opening matches within group C for the viewers. The following six teams will fight for three tickets to the championship playoffs. Participants include ENCE, Heroic, HEET, Astralis, Complexity and MOUZ. It is unlikely that anyone will argue with the fact that we have before us the most equal sextet. And if some teams look like favorites, it will not be possible to identify obvious outsiders here. In this article, we propose to run through each of the participants and try to understand which of them has a chance to go to the playoffs, and who - to go home.

ENCE

The most interesting representative of group C is the ENCE team. Back in the spring, sAw's wards caused problems for FaZe Clan and reached the semi-finals of the major. However, then the team slowly faded, which led to the inevitable. As a result, ENCE made two roster changes, signing valde and SunPayus.

However, the European team has not yet made their debut in the new season, leaving room for discussion. At the same time, you first need to understand if ENCE has become weaker. In any case, the first matches will tell exactly what form the team is in. And yet, the guys will take their points, not without the help of a new sniper.

Verdict: ENCE will fight for getting into the TOP-3 of the group, gaining 6-9 points.

heroic

Moving on, Heroic is next. The Danish team signed Jabbi back in the summer, but nothing good came of this transfer. The Danes failed in Cologne and did not even get into the playoffs, having gone to rest early. It might seem that in a month the team will correct all its shortcomings, but in reality it turned out a little differently.

Back in August, Heroic took part in BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2022, where she even won the group, beating FaZe Clan in the final. However, in the Play-In, all the problems of the Danish team came out, as a result of which they suffered two defeats. What we have? First of all, the Heroic game doesn't change in any way, and many opponents are used to the system built by cadiaN. Secondly, it's still a little easier for the Danes to play online, just as at LAN tournaments the guys can't open up and invariably choke in emotions.

Of course, Heroic will fight for the playoffs, but something tells us that in such an equal group, the team may not succeed.

Verdict: Heroic won't make it to the playoffs after scoring 3-6 points.

HEET

Another team that was not afraid to change its composition in the offseason. However, in fact, HEET has become only weaker if we are talking about the individual level. Yes, the JACKZ transfer gave the French more experience, but even without that, the guys managed to ride TIER-2 and even win several championships.

However, this iteration of HEET has not been able to reach a stable level of results yet, as evidenced by recent matches. For example, the team on the flag made it to the IEM Road to Rio 2022 for Europe, but in all the qualifiers they showed by no means the most outstanding game. As a result, we have a combat-ready team that will cause inconvenience to the favorites. But the French are definitely not ready to fight for the TOP-3.

Verdict: HEET will not qualify for the playoffs with 3-6 points.

Astralis

Despite all the failures, the Danish team puts aside quite understandable feelings. Yes, now Astralis does not indulge in impressive victories, just as the structure of the game leaves much to be desired. And yet the team can boast of the main thing - stability.

Back in August, the wards of trace performed at BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2022, where, having won the group, they failed in the Play-In. And the Danish team did not show itself in any way in the next qualifiers, only on the last attempt they got to IEM Road to Rio 2022 for Europe. However, Astralis has a certain layer of trust, and such an experienced squad, apart from the sniper, can take advantage of their chances and reach the playoffs.

Verdict: Astralis will make it out of the group, but will make one or two misfires.

Complexity

Moving on to the funniest team in Group C — Complexity. Honestly, it's funny to see the North Americans at the next big championship, because this is another failure. Yes, the organization decided to change the sniper in the off-season, but hallzerk, with the exception of default situations, is no better than the same junior.

Speaking of results, the team managed to qualify for IEM Road to Rio 2022 for America by winning their qualifiers. But let's not forget that Complexity is a grand in its region, and in Europe it turns out BLAST Premier: Fall Groups 2022 over and over again. Let me remind you that in Copenhagen, the North Americans started with a sensational victory over NAVI, but then suffered three defeats and ingloriously left the championship.

Of course, the team will fight and try to impose their game. But even against the background of HEET, the team looks too unattractive.

Verdict: Complexity won't make the playoffs without earning a single point.

MOUZ

Another prominent representative of Europe, which can both surprise and fail. Yes, MOUZ had a successful experience in Cologne, where the team made it to the quarterfinals. After that, the team rested, but when they returned, they qualified for IEM Road to Rio 2022 for Europe on the first try.

But then there was another castling, as a result of which the “mice” transferred xertioN to the main team. Of course, MOUZ has not played anywhere in the updated line-up, although everyone will remain the same in terms of roles. And yet the team can surprise, especially with such a young and promising line-up that we have now.

Verdict: MOUZ will be fighting for a place in the top 3 of the group with 6-9 points.

ESL Pro League Season 16 runs from August 31st to October 2nd in Malta at the Salini Resort. 24 teams from Europe, CIS, North and South America compete for a total prize pool of $835,000. The winner of the tournament will receive the main prize of $175,000, as well as tickets to BLAST Premier: World Final 2022 and IEM Katowice 2023.

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