On July 24th, 2025, at 16:30 UTC, MIBR will face off against HEROIC in the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Play-In. This best-of-3 match is crucial as it takes place in the lower bracket of the tournament. MIBR and HEROIC are both eager to advance further in this prestigious event held in Germany. We have analyzed the statistics and the current form of the teams to make a prediction for the match outcome. Check out the match details.

Current form of the teams

MIBR, currently ranked 22nd in the world (source), has shown a mixed performance recently. Their overall win rate is 59%, but it has dipped to 40% in the recent half-year and further to 25% in the last month. Their recent form includes a win against Virtus.pro but losses to teams like 3DMAX, Astralis, and FaZe. MIBR earned $88,000 in the last six months, ranking them 28th in earnings. Their recent tournaments include a 9-12th place finish at the FISSURE Playground 1, where they earned $10,000. MIBR’s last five matches include a loss to 3DMAX, a loss to Astralis, a win against Virtus.pro, and two more losses to Astralis and FaZe. Their winstreak currently stands at zero.

HEROIC, ranked 12th globally (source), has also faced challenges recently, with a win rate of 61% over the last half-year. However, their performance in the last month has been disappointing, with a win rate of 0%. HEROIC’s recent matches include losses to Ninjas in Pyjamas, BetBoom, BIG, and Nemiga, with their only win coming against TYLOO. Despite the recent form slump, HEROIC has amassed $266,000 in the last six months, placing them 9th in earnings. In the FISSURE Playground 1, they finished 13-16th, earning $5,000. Their recent matches include a loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas and a win against TYLOO.

Teams’ Map Pool

The map veto for this match is expected to follow a strategic pattern. MIBR is likely to first ban Dust2, while HEROIC will first ban Inferno. MIBR might opt to first pick Train, a map where they have a moderate win rate, whereas HEROIC could choose Mirage, which they have excelled on with a 75% win rate. The remaining maps, Ancient and Anubis, are expected to be banned, leaving Nuke as the decider map. This prediction is based on the teams’ map preferences and performances over the past six months.

Prediction

Considering the current form, map pool, and historical head-to-head statistics, HEROIC is favored to win this matchup. Their superior ranking, better recent performance, and strategic map selection give them a distinct advantage. MIBR will need to overcome their recent struggles and capitalize on their map strengths to stand a chance. However, given the data, HEROIC is likely to secure a 2-0 victory.

Prediction: MIBR 0:2 HEROIC

The Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 takes place from July 23 to August 25 in Germany, featuring a prize pool of top-tier competition. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament via the official link.