On August 22 at 10:15 CEST, MPL Indonesia Season 16 will feature a group stage match between ONIC and Dewa United Esports. The match will be played in a best-of-3 format and promises to be a test of strength for the reigning champion against one of the division's main underdogs.

Current Situation

ONIC

ONIC enters the new MPL Indonesia season as the reigning champion. Despite a successful performance in the last split, the team underwent changes after the Mid Season Cup 2025, where they placed fourth. Ryota and Nnael left ONIC, and Skylar joined the team, while CW transitioned to the role of assistant coach. These changes aim to strengthen the team and maintain its competitiveness in the region.

Dewa United Esports

Dewa United continues to be one of the division's main underdogs. For the past few seasons, the team has consistently finished at the bottom of the standings. During the off-season, the team once again made roster changes in an effort to finally break out of their slump and at least approach the middle of the table. However, the team is currently more known for its instability than for any real success.

Current Form of the Teams

ONIC

On the international stage in July, the team performed well, finishing fourth at the Mid Season Cup 2025, losing the bronze series to ONIC PH. In their last five matches, ONIC won only twice—against Virtus.pro and Mythic SEAL, while losing three times (including two defeats to Team Liquid PH). This indicates a slight decline in results, but within the local league, ONIC remains one of the favorites.

Dewa United Esports

Unlike their opponent, Dewa United did not participate in international tournaments and was on break after the conclusion of MPL Indonesia Season 15. Their recent official results are disappointing: only one win in five matches—against RRQ Hoshi, with losses to Alter Ego, Bigetron Alpha, ONIC, and EVOS. This confirms the team's status as an underdog and raises doubts about their readiness to compete against the champion.

Head-to-Head Matches

Last season in MPL Indonesia, the teams met twice. Both encounters ended with ONIC winning with the same score of 2:1. Although Dewa United managed to put up a fight, the outcome always favored the champion. These matches demonstrate that even on their good days, Dewa United is not yet capable of securing a victory.

Match Prediction

Given the status of reigning champion, recent roster enhancements for ONIC, and the extremely weak form of Dewa United, ONIC is undoubtedly the favorite in the Best-of-3 match. Even despite a not-so-stable recent series of games, the team's level is significantly higher than that of their opponent.

Prediction: ONIC wins 2:0.

MPL Indonesia Season 16 will run from August 22 to November. Teams will compete for a prize pool of $300,000 and slots at the M7 World Championship. Follow the results, match schedule, and news via this link.