As we approach the business end of ESL Pro League Season 20, one of the standout matchups in the quarterfinals is Vitality vs Eternal Fire. Both teams have fought their way through the group stages, but now it’s do or die as they face off on September 19th. The winner advances to the semifinals, while the loser is eliminated from the tournament. With the stakes this high, let’s take a closer look at the form of both teams and break down what we can expect from this crucial encounter.
Vitality: The Heavy Favorites
Vitality have been in stunning form lately, stringing together an 11-match win streak that includes their recent triumph at IEM Cologne 2024. They dominated their group in the ESL Pro League Season 20 and seem unstoppable, with their players firing on all cylinders.
Leading the charge, of course, is none other than Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut, arguably the best player in the world right now. ZywOo has consistently performed at an incredible level, and his stats speak volumes: rating 7.0, 0.84 KPR, 86 ADR. Fresh off an MVP performance in Cologne, ZywOo is the key to Vitality’s success. His ability to take over games, regardless of the situation, makes Vitality a formidable opponent for any team.
But ZywOo isn’t alone. The entire Vitality roster has been stepping up, particularly their in-game leader, Dan "apEX" Madesclaire. Known for his support play, apEX has been delivering one of the best performances of his career. His recent stats show a rating of 6.0, 0.61 KPR, and 74 ADR, which is outstanding for a support player. apEX’s leadership, combined with his individual impact, has been crucial in guiding Vitality through difficult moments.
Looking at their map pool, Vitality are incredibly versatile. They excel on Mirage (85.7% win rate), Nuke (78.6%), and Vertigo (77.8%), making it difficult for opponents to find an edge in the veto. Their weakest map is Anubis, but given Eternal Fire’s strengths, Vitality will likely permaban Ancient, forcing a balanced map pool.
Eternal Fire: XANTARES and Co. Aim for an Upset
Eternal Fire, on the other hand, have had a solid season thus far. They’ve qualified for IEM Rio 2024 and made it to the playoffs of several LAN events, showing that they are more than capable of holding their own against top-tier opposition. Leading the way is the Turkish superstar İsmailсan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş, whose rating of 6.5, 0.75 KPR, and 85 ADR showcases his ability to carry games on his shoulders. XANTARES has been the standout player for Eternal Fire, and his team relies heavily on his firepower.
While Eternal Fire have looked solid, they’ve struggled in key matchups against the likes of NAVI. However, with a strategic map veto, they can level the playing field. Eternal Fire boasts impressive stats on Anubis (82.4% win rate) and Dust2 (66.7%), both of which are maps they’ll be comfortable picking against Vitality. Their performance on Mirage has been shaky (35.3%), but they have shown resilience on other maps, such as Vertigo and Inferno.
The main concern for Eternal Fire will be how well their supportive players can match up against the depth of Vitality’s roster. While XANTARES is capable of carrying games, the likes of Özgür "woxic" Eker and Bugra "Calyx" Arkin will need to step up to support their star player. They cannot rely solely on XANTARES to deliver against a team as well-rounded as Vitality.
Map Pool and Predicted Veto
The map veto will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this match. Vitality have a strong map pool, with Mirage, Nuke, and Vertigo being their go-to maps, while Eternal Fire’s best maps are Anubis and Dust2. With this in mind, the likely veto scenario is:
- Vitality will pick Mirage (where they hold an 85.7% win rate).
- Eternal Fire will pick Anubis (their strongest map at 82.4%).
- The decider is likely to be Dust2, where both teams have decent records (Vitality at 70.6% and Eternal Fire at 66.7%).
This map pool favors Vitality, especially with their experience and the current form of players like ZywOo and apEX. However, Eternal Fire’s proficiency on Anubis could throw a wrench in Vitality’s plans, making this a highly competitive series.
Prediction: Vitality 2-1 Eternal Fire
While Eternal Fire have the tools to take a map, likely Anubis, Vitality are the favorites to win this series. Their depth, form, and leadership give them a clear edge in the quarterfinals, and they should be able to secure a 2-1 victory to advance to the semifinals. Eternal Fire will put up a good fight, but ultimately, Vitality’s consistency across multiple maps and the brilliance of ZywOo will prove too much to handle.
With Vitality advancing, they’ll be one step closer to adding another major trophy to their cabinet, while Eternal Fire will leave the tournament knowing they gave one of the best teams in the world a run for their money.
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