In the group stage of the IEM Katowice 2025 Play-in, a match will take place between Wildcard and BIG. Both teams approach the tournament with differing forms but aim to prove their readiness to compete for advancement to the next stage. In this material, we will analyze the current form of the teams, their map pool, and provide a prediction for the upcoming match.

Current Team Form

Wildcard

The average rating for Wildcard in tournaments over the past month is 5.9. The team shows inconsistent results: they were eliminated from the Perfect World Shanghai Major Elimination Stage with a score of 0-3, but managed to secure a victory in the B-tier tournament Frost and Fire Europe. In the BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Closed Qualifier, Wildcard suffered a defeat in the match against Astralis.

Recent matches for Wildcard indicate that the team is in good form: out of five games, they won three, defeating 9 Pandas, SINNERS, and Insilio. However, losses to Astralis and GamerLegion indicate issues in matches against stronger opponents.

BIG

BIG holds a slightly higher average rating of 6.2. However, their results over the past month also leave much to be desired. After an unsuccessful performance at the Perfect World Shanghai Major Elimination Stage (0-3), the team showed mixed results in the BLAST Bounty Spring: Closed Qualifier. They confidently defeated SAW with a score of 2-0 but then lost to G2 in a tense series 1-2.

In the last five matches, BIG achieved only one victory — against SAW. The other games against G2 (twice), paiN, and HEROIC ended in defeats, indicating difficulties in games against top teams.

Map Pool

Wildcard and BIG have different approaches to map selection and banning, which will create an interesting clash already in the draft stage. Wildcard is likely to ban Mirage, as they have done so 38 times before. Their strong maps include Vertigo (80% win rate), Inferno (76%), and Dust II (69%). The team prefers to play on Ancient, Inferno, and Dust II, based on opponents' weaknesses.

BIG, on the other hand, will likely ban Inferno first — a map they have excluded 22 times. Their choices usually depend on the opponent's weaknesses, with a focus on Ancient (71% win rate), Dust II (47%), and Mirage (32%). BIG's most successful maps are Ancient, Nuke (60%), and Vertigo (50%). As a result, Wildcard will likely ban Mirage, and BIG will ban Inferno. Then the teams will choose their strengths: Wildcard will settle on Vertigo, BIG will choose Ancient, and the deciding map could be Dust II.

Match Prediction

Wildcard appears more confident in recent games, especially against less renowned opponents. Their map pool allows for varied strategies, and their high win rates on Vertigo and Inferno give them an advantage. However, BIG has a stronger lineup and handles maps requiring precise strategies, such as Ancient and Nuke, better.

The key factor will be BIG's ability to adapt to Wildcard's style and impose their own game. If BIG manages to close Vertigo and put up a fight on Ancient, their chances of winning will increase.

Prediction: Wildcard wins with a score of 2-1.

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 through this link.