On May 12th, 2025, at 08:00 CEST, BIG will face off against Virtus.pro in the Group Stage of the PGL Astana 2025. This best-of-3 series promises to be an intriguing encounter as both teams vie for dominance in this prestigious tournament. We have analyzed the statistics and the current form of the teams to make a prediction for the match outcome. Click here for match details.
Current form of the teams
BIG, currently ranked 23rd globally, has shown a mixed bag of performances recently. With a win rate of 53% overall and 54% in the past six months, they have been relatively consistent, although their recent month’s win rate dipped to 46%. Their recent form includes a loss to Natus Vincere in the PGL Astana 2025, following a victory against Aurora. In the MESA Nomadic Masters: Spring 2025, BIG secured a second-place finish, earning $60,000, which contributed to their six-month earnings of $139,750, placing them 13th in earnings rankings. Despite their recent loss, BIG’s performance against top-tier teams like HEROIC and B8 indicates their potential to compete fiercely.
Virtus.pro, ranked 13th globally, enters this match with a slight edge in recent form, maintaining a win streak of one. Their overall win rate stands at 60%, although it’s worth noting their recent month’s performance has slumped with a 25% win rate. Virtus.pro’s recent matches include a victory over M80 at PGL Astana 2025 and a loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas. They also faced challenges in the Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025, finishing 13-16th. Their six-month earnings amount to $134,000, ranking them 14th, showcasing their ability to secure substantial prize money despite recent hurdles.
Teams’ Map Pool
The map veto for this match is expected to unfold with BIG banning Anubis first, followed by Virtus.pro banning Nuke. BIG is likely to pick Ancient, leveraging their 54% win rate on this map, while Virtus.pro might opt for Dust2, where they boast a 67% win rate. The remaining maps will see BIG banning Train and Virtus.pro removing Inferno, leaving Mirage as the decider. The historical data supports these choices, as BIG’s past bans and picks align with this strategy, particularly their frequent bans of Anubis and picks of Ancient.
| Map | BIG Winrate | M | B | Last 5 Matches (BIG) | Virtus.Pro Winrate | M | B | Last 5 Matches (Virtus.Pro) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuke | 58% | 12 | 12 | W, W, ●, FB, FB | 0% | 0 | 31 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB |
| Dust II | 47% | 19 | 4 | L, L, W, L, W | 67% | 15 | 5 | W, L, L, L, W |
| Inferno | 35% | 17 | 15 | L, L, W, ●, ● | 53% | 16 | 5 | W, W, L, FB, FB |
| Train | 67% | 6 | 12 | W, W, W, FB, ● | 50% | 6 | 9 | L, W, L, W, L |
| Ancient | 55% | 38 | 1 | L, L, L, W, L | 41% | 17 | 2 | L, L, W, L, W |
| Mirage | 48% | 31 | 6 | W, W, L, W, L | 38% | 13 | 4 | L, W, W, L, L |
| Anubis | 25% | 4 | 31 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB | 33% | 9 | 6 | L, L, L, W, L |
Prediction
Considering the current form, map pool, and head-to-head history, BIG is favored to win this series 2:1. Their superior map statistics and recent head-to-head dominance suggest that they have the upper hand in this matchup. Virtus.pro, while capable of challenging BIG, may struggle to overcome their historical disadvantage. However, with the right strategies, Virtus.pro could potentially turn the tables, making this an engaging contest to watch.
Prediction: BIG 2:1 Virtus.pro
Odds are taken from Stake and are current at the time of publication.
PGL Astana 2025 takes place from May 10th to May 18th in Kazakhstan, featuring a prize pool of $625,000. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament via the link.
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