We’re rapidly approaching the conclusion of IEM Katowice 2025‘s Group Stage, and right now, we’re not looking at too many outliers when it comes to favorites reaching the Playoffs. That’s not to say we haven’t seen a couple of surprise packages, but by large, it’s been a set of results that we pretty much saw coming.
Teams like NAVI and Vitality make it through with ease
Credit: IEM on X
Coming into this CS2 tournament, you’d have to have placed NAVI and Vitality among the favorites to take home the trophy. Now, both have managed to reach the Playoffs of the event, where we expect at least one of the two to be fighting for the win right up until the Grand Final.
It’s a credit to their high ceiling and consistency that they’ve got through without an issue here. IEM Katowice 2025 should be about the best beating the best, and we want teams like this making the Playoffs to ensure that’s the case.
The MongolZ have also locked down their Playoffs slot. A surprise to some, sure, but not to me. They made Playoffs in a few events towards the tail-end of 2024, so it’s good to see they’ve managed to retain that form heading into the new year.
One of FaZe or Eternal Fire have got to go
Credit: Enos Ku | ESL
If there are any real surprises, it’s who is in danger of a pre-Playoffs exit. The two big names right now are FaZe Clan and Eternal Fire, who will face each other for the final Group A slot. That’s right – one of these two has to go home.
Eternal Fire have been slowly improving over the last six months, and the recent signing of jottAAA over Calyx seemed to accelerate that even further. Their appearance in the BLAST Bounty Final suggested they were on the right track. Meanwhile, FaZe have arguably raised their ceiling by signing EliGE, even if there are still a few roles to sort out on the server. These are two teams who should be making Playoffs – at least we’re guaranteed one.
Another team still in danger of going home is Team Spirit. After their BLAST Bounty Season 1 win, I had them down as favorites for this event. They were unfortunate in drawing NAVI at an early stage in Group B, so they have had to fight their way through the Lower Bracket to retain any chance of defending their IEM Katowice crown. Team Spirit face GamerLegion for the last Group B spot, and I’d back them to take it.
Virtus.pro are the biggest surprise package
Credit: Enos Ku | ESL
Of all the teams to secure a Playoffs spot at this stage, Virtus.pro have been the biggest surprise package. In a tournament of such high quality, they’ve done extremely well to lock down a minimum top-six finish, especially when most had written this roster off already with electroNic trying his hand at IGLing once more.
Virtus.pro have been reinvigorated by the young blood in FL4MUS and ICY, both of whom have put up strong individual performances while allowing the others to level up their game. I’ll be watching their Playoffs performance with great interest.