We continue breaking down all matches during the first week of VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1. Today, let’s talk about the second match of the opening day, where Karmine Corp will face off against BBL Esports. Below, we’ll try to predict the outcome of the match.
Current Form of the Teams
Karmine Corp
Not the strongest team in their region. Despite adding a couple of well-known players at the beginning of 2025, including Saadhak, the situation hasn’t improved. The team finished 9th-12th at VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff, which prevented them from qualifying for Masters Bangkok 2025. In their last five matches, Karmine Corp claimed two victories against Natus Vincere and KOI but suffered losses to GIANTX, Team Vitality, and FUT Esports.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Karmine Corp | 1 - 2 | GIANTX |
| Karmine Corp | 1 - 2 | Team Vitality |
| Karmine Corp | 2 - 1 | Natus Vincere |
| Karmine Corp | 0 - 1 | FUT Esports |
| Karmine Corp | 0 - 1 | G2 Esports |
Even roster changes didn’t help Karmine Corp deliver solid results at the start of the season. We’ll see how things go in the upcoming qualifiers this year.
BBL Esports
The second team in this match is BBL Esports, and they don’t look particularly strong either. In the latest VCT 2025: EMEA Kickoff qualifiers, they placed 5th-6th and also missed out on Masters. In their last five matches, BBL Esports earned three wins—one over Fnatic and two over GIANTX. The other three matches ended in losses, including defeats to Team Liquid and Team Heretics.
| Team 1 | Score | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| BBL Esports | 1 - 2 | Team Liquid |
| BBL Esports | 0 - 2 | Team Heretics |
| BBL Esports | 2 - 1 | Fnatic |
| BBL Esports | 2 - 1 | GIANTX |
| BBL Esports | 3 - 1 | GIANTX |
Just like their upcoming opponents, BBL Esports isn’t one of the top teams in the region, which makes the match all the more intriguing.
Map Pool of the Teams
Expected bans:
- Karmine Corp will likely ban Pearl.
- BBL Esports will likely remove Split.
Expected picks:
- Karmine Corp might pick Icebox.
- BBL Esports may go for Fracture.
Head-to-Head Record
The teams haven’t played against each other in the last six months.
Match Prediction
We’re in for a matchup between two mid-tier teams, which should make it fun to watch. We give the edge to Karmine Corp, thanks to their star-studded roster and high-profile players.
Predicted result: Karmine Corp victory, 2:0.
VCT 2025: EMEA Stage 1 runs from March 26 to May 18 in LAN format at the Riot Games Arena in Berlin. Twelve partnered VCT EMEA teams will compete for three slots at Masters Toronto and for valuable EMEA Points needed to qualify for the upcoming World Championship.
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