In the first stage of ESL Pro League Season 22, we will see an exciting clash between GamerLegion and B8. This is a match for a place in the second stage of the tournament, where both teams aim to prove their competitiveness. Despite their different results in recent months, bookmakers and most experts give the edge to the European roster. Will B8 deliver an upset, or will GamerLegion confidently confirm their status as favorites? We’ll find out very soon.
How the Bookmakers See It: GamerLegion as Favorites
Bookmakers favor GamerLegion in this matchup. Their broader experience on the international stage and stable results against top-tier teams make them the clear favorites. Analysts note that the strength of their map pool and their ability to adapt to their opponent’s weaknesses give GL a significant advantage.
Despite B8’s decent form and some recent surprise victories, experts believe the Ukrainian team will struggle to overcome the more experienced opponent in a bo3 series. Bookmaker expectations point to a GamerLegion victory, most likely with a 2:1 scoreline.
Current Form of B8: What to Expect
B8 enters ESL Pro League Season 22 in decent shape. Over the past three months, the team has played 38 maps, winning 18 of them. Their highlight was at StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, where they secured a strong third-place finish, showing solid performance against tough opponents.
- B8 lineup: npl, esenthial, headtr1ck, alex666, kensizor
In their last five matches, B8 managed to defeat G2, Legacy, and Gentle, but fell to HOTU and NiP. This shows the team’s potential to win important series, though consistency still remains an issue.
Current Form of GamerLegion: What to Expect
GamerLegion has slightly better numbers overall: in the last three months, they played 48 maps, winning 25. However, their tournament results look less impressive — at FISSURE Playground 2 they finished 9–11th, failing to advance to the playoffs.
- GamerLegion lineup: ztr, Tauson, PR, REZ, hypex
In their last five encounters, GL defeated Astralis and NRG but lost to Inner Circle, Astralis (in the rematch), and G2. This shows that they are capable of pulling off upsets against strong opponents but also tend to underperform in matches where they are expected to dominate.
B8 Map Pool
In a bo3 series, B8 will most likely start by banning Nuke, as it’s their usual perma-ban. Their most logical pick would be Mirage, where they have a solid 67% win rate and plenty of practice. Alternatively, they might go for Ancient, though their performance there is noticeably weaker.
GamerLegion Map Pool
GamerLegion, on the other hand, usually bans Dust2, so that will likely be their first removal. For their pick, they tend to exploit the opponent’s weaknesses. Against B8, the most probable choice is Nuke (57% win rate for GL, while B8 struggles on this map) or the more stable option, Inferno.
If the match goes to a decider, Overpass looks most likely. Both teams are comfortable there: B8 currently have a 100% win rate (on a small sample size), while GamerLegion sit at 63%.
Head-to-Head Record
In the past six months, B8 and GamerLegion have not faced each other. This will be their first direct clash in recent memory, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the matchup.
Prediction for B8 vs GamerLegion: Battle for Stage Two of ESL Pro League Season 22
Both teams enter the series with seemingly even chances, but GamerLegion looks more convincing in the long run. They have played more maps, boast a higher win rate over the last few months, and hold notable victories against strong teams like Astralis and NRG.
The map pool will be decisive: while Mirage could favor B8, on Nuke or Inferno, GamerLegion should have a clear edge. If it goes to Overpass, GL’s broader experience on the map might outweigh B8’s perfect record. Taking into account their stability and deeper strategic arsenal, GamerLegion stands out as the favorite in this matchup.
Prediction – GamerLegion to win 2:1.
