The fnatic vs M80 showdown in the lower bracket final of Group A at BLAST Open London 2025 is set to deliver a heated battle on September 1, 2025, at 15:30 EEST. With a quarterfinals spot at the LAN Finals on the line, fnatic will look to extend their recent winning streak, while M80 aim to prove that their stunning victories against top-tier opponents were no accident.
How the bookies view it: M80 favorite
Most bookmakers see M80 as the favorite in the match against fnatic at BLAST Open London 2025, largely due to their impressive form and a statement victory over NAVI. The North American squad has proven they can handle elite opposition, which boosts their odds. fnatic, however, are on a five-match winning streak and could pose a serious challenge if they carry that momentum into the series.
Fnatic Form: What to expect from fnatic
The European organization has shown inconsistency lately, but in recent weeks the team looks much more confident. Over the past three months, fnatic played 83 maps, winning 52 of them. In August and early September, the roster participated in several events: among their achievements were top-4 finishes at RES Showdown 2: BLAST Premier Rising Event and CT Season 3 Europe Series 4, as well as a victory at DraculaN Season 1.
- Fnatic roster: KRIMZ, blameF, fear, jambo, CYPHER.
Despite poor results at BLAST Bounty 2025 (17–32nd place) and Exort The Proving Grounds (5–8th place), fnatic have won their last five matches in a row, defeating EYEBALLERS, ENCE, GamerLegion, and Monte twice.
M80 Form: What to expect from M80
The American squad is on a strong run: 59 wins out of 78 maps over the last three months. The team claimed multiple championships in North America — Thunderpick World Championship 2025 NA Series, Ace NA Masters 2025, and PrizePicks NA Revival Series 8. In addition, they reached the top-4 at CCT Season 3 NA and secured bronze at ESL Challenger League S50 NA Cup 1.
- M80 roster: Swisher, slaxz-, s1n, Lake, HexT.
In their last five matches, M80 won four times, including stunning victories over NAVI and Vp, with their only loss coming against Team Vitality.
fnatic Map Pool
In a bo3 series, fnatic almost always remove Nuke, so this map is unlikely to appear in the match. For their own pick, fnatic could opt for Train, their most played and successful battleground (19 times with a 74% win rate and a current streak of 4 wins). Another strong choice would be Inferno (69% WR), while Dust2 (75% WR) also looks promising, though it is played less frequently.
Considering recent tendencies, the most probable pick for fnatic is Train. In the second wave of bans, fnatic will most likely target Ancient, aiming to eliminate one of M80’s biggest strengths.
M80 Map Pool
Just like fnatic, M80 tend to ban Nuke first, making it an unlikely option in this series. When it comes to their pick, the North American team usually adjusts based on the opponent, but their strongest choices remain Overpass (88% WR across 17 maps) and Ancient (78% WR with a streak of 9 wins). Dust2 is far less favorable for them (47% WR), so it is expected they will avoid relying on it.
The most likely pick for M80 is Overpass. In the second round of bans, M80 are likely to remove Inferno, one of fnatic’s most stable maps. This leaves Mirage as the most probable decider — a battleground familiar to both sides, though with mixed results.
Head-to-Head: First clash in six months, M80 favored
This will be the first meeting between fnatic and M80 in the past six months, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the clash. With no recent head-to-head history to draw from, much will depend on tactical preparation and adaptability during the series. Going into this encounter, M80 are seen as the frontrunners, thanks to their strong form and recent victories over top-tier opponents.
Match Prediction: M80 vs fnatic at BLAST Open London 2025
The clash between M80 and fnatic promises to be highly intense, with a quarterfinals spot at the LAN Finals on the line. fnatic bring valuable European experience and enter the match on a five-game winning streak, but questions about their overall stability remain.
M80, meanwhile, have impressed with statement victories over top-tier opponents like NAVI and Virtus.pro, while also displaying a powerful map pool, particularly on Overpass and Ancient. The series is expected to be close and could well go the full distance, but M80’s current form and confident playstyle give them the upper hand.
Prediction: M80 to win 2:1 and secure their place in the quarterfinals of BLAST Open London 2025.
