During the group stage of the IEM Katowice 2025 Play-in, a match will take place between Liquid and Complexity. Both teams approach the tournament with different gaming forms but intend to prove their readiness to fight for a chance to stay in the tournament. In this material, we will analyze the current form of the teams, their map pool, and provide a forecast for the upcoming match.

Current Team Form

Liquid

The average rating of Liquid in events over the last month is 6.1. The team previously participated in the Perfect World Shanghai Major Elimination Stage, where they advanced to the playoffs with a score of 3-1 but were defeated in the quarterfinals. Liquid also participated in the BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier, where they won against 9 Pandas but lost to HEROIC. In IEM Katowice 2025: Play-in, the team once again faced HEROIC and suffered another defeat.

Out of the last five matches, Liquid won two — against 9 Pandas and MIBR, losing to HEROIC twice and Spirit.

Complexity

The average rating of Complexity in events over the last month is 5.8. The team participated in the Perfect World Shanghai Major Opening Stage, where they were eliminated with a score of 2-3. In the BLAST Bounty Spring: Closed Qualifier, Complexity lost to Virtus.pro. During IEM Katowice 2025: Play-in, the team faced Eternal Fire and suffered a defeat.

Out of the last five matches, Complexity won two — against Cloud9 and Imperial, but lost to Eternal Fire, Virtus.pro, and BIG.

Team Map Pool

Liquid

Liquid is most likely to ban Vertigo, considering this map was removed 27 times. The team prefers to choose maps that match the opponent's weaknesses, such as Anubis (19 times, win rate 79%), Inferno (18 times, win rate 56%), and Nuke (18 times, win rate 44%). Liquid's most successful maps are Ancient (win rate 83%), Anubis (79%), and Inferno (56%).

Complexity

Complexity most frequently bans Mirage — this map was removed 27 times. In choosing maps, the team also focuses on the opponent's weaknesses, preferring Anubis (19 times, win rate 53%), Vertigo (16 times, win rate 63%), and Ancient (10 times, win rate 60%). Complexity's most successful maps are Vertigo (win rate 63%), Ancient (60%), and Anubis (53%).

Map Pool Forecast

Liquid is highly likely to ban Vertigo, while Complexity will ban Mirage. The game pool will leave Anubis, Ancient, and Inferno. Liquid will likely choose Anubis, given their high win rate on this map (79%), and Complexity may prefer Ancient, where their win rate is 60%. The third map will remain Inferno, where the teams will decide the outcome of the match.

Head-to-Head Record

In the past six months, the teams have met three times. All matches ended with Liquid's victory:

• Three months ago — Liquid's victory;
• Four months ago — Liquid's victory with a score of 2:0;
• Five months ago — Liquid's victory with a score of 2:0.

Match Prediction

Considering the current form of the teams, map pool statistics, and successful personal encounters, Liquid appears to be the favorite. The team has a higher average rating, better performance on key maps, and a positive history of confrontations with Complexity.

Prediction: Liquid's victory with a score of 2:0

IEM Katowice 2025 will take place from January 29 to February 9 in Katowice, Poland. Twenty-four teams will compete for a prize pool of $1 million. You can follow the event's schedule and results via the link.