The stage is set for a thrilling encounter between Virtus.pro and HEROIC in the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 Stage 1 Play-In. This best-of-3 match will take place on July 25, 2025, at 16:30 UTC. As part of the lower bracket, both teams are fighting to stay in the tournament. Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 Stage 1 is a prestigious event held in Germany, and the stakes are high. We have analyzed the statistics and the current form of the teams to make a prediction for the match outcome. For more details, visit the match page.
Current form of the teams
Virtus.pro, currently ranked 14th in the world (source), has faced a challenging period recently. With a win rate of 59% overall and 46% in the last six months, their form has dipped to 25% over the past month. Their recent matches reflect this struggle, as they lost to GamerLegion and MIBR, among others. Despite a win against TYLOO, their current win streak stands at zero. Over the last six months, they have earned $157,125, ranking them 15th in terms of earnings.
On the other hand, HEROIC, ranked 12th globally (source), boasts a slightly better recent performance. They have an overall win rate of 63% and have maintained a consistent 62% over the last six months. However, their recent month mirrors Virtus.pro with a win rate of 25%. Their recent victory against MIBR was a confidence booster after a loss to Ninjas in Pyjamas. HEROIC’s recent earnings amount to $266,000, placing them 9th among their peers.
Teams Map Pool
The map veto prediction suggests that Virtus.pro will first ban Nuke, while HEROIC will ban Inferno. Virtus.pro is expected to pick Dust2, a map they have a 55% win rate on, while HEROIC will likely choose Ancient, with a 48% win rate. The decider is anticipated to be Mirage, where HEROIC has a strong 75% win rate. This scenario aligns with both teams’ historical tendencies and recent performances.
| Map | Virtus.Pro Winrate | M | B | Last 5 Matches (Virtus.Pro) | HEROIC Winrate | M | B | Last 5 Matches (HEROIC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inferno | 72% | 18 | 5 | W, W, L, W, W | 0% | 0 | 36 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB |
| Nuke | 0% | 0 | 32 | FB, FB, FB, FB, FB | 59% | 17 | 8 | L, W, W, W, L |
| Mirage | 35% | 17 | 4 | W, L, L, L, L | 75% | 20 | 2 | W, W, W, W, W |
| Train | 29% | 7 | 13 | W, L, L, L, L | 60% | 10 | 10 | W, W, L, W, W |
| Anubis | 33% | 9 | 4 | L, L, W, L, W | 63% | 16 | 4 | L, L, W, W, W |
| Ancient | 35% | 17 | 5 | L, L, L, W, W | 48% | 23 | 8 | L, L, L, W, L |
| Dust II | 55% | 20 | 4 | L, W, L, W, L | 58% | 24 | 8 | W, W, L, W, L |
Prediction
Considering the current form, map pool, and historical data, HEROIC is favored to win this matchup. With a 71% win probability, HEROIC’s recent performance and map strengths give them an edge. Virtus.pro’s recent struggles and HEROIC’s superior map statistics suggest a likely 2-0 victory for HEROIC.
Prediction: Virtus.pro 0:2 HEROIC
Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 takes place from July 23 to August 25 in Germany, featuring a prize pool of $1,000,000. You can follow the news, schedule, and results of the tournament via the link.
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