Following three days of group stage battles, six teams have secured their spots in the IEM Dallas Playoffs. Pinnacle Esports analyzes each contender’s playoff path.
Playoffs Team-by-Team Preview
Vitality: The Undisputed #1
As the current top-ranked team in the world, Vitality has extended its dominant winning streak to 28 consecutive matches. Having claimed five straight tournament titles, they cruised through the group stage as the top seed, securing a direct berth in the semifinals. With all five team members maintaining 1.00+ ratings, Vitality once again stands as the overwhelming favorite to win the championship.
Falcons (#4 HLTV/Valve)
After adding AWPer m0NESY, Falcons have become a consistent threat, earning back-to-back runner-up finishes in recent tournaments. Their sole group stage loss to MOUZ denied them a direct semifinal berth, but their firepower makes them one of the few teams capable of challenging Vitality’s streak.
GamerLegion (#10 Valve, #11 HLTV)
The youngest playoff squad (avg. age 21.5), GL rebounded from a 15-16th finish in their last premier event to secure a quarterfinal spot. Their reward? A daunting match against Falcons.
MOUZ (#2 Valve, #3 HLTV)
With a 73.1% win rate (last 3 months), MOUZ avenged prior losses by defeating Falcons in the group stage, securing a semifinal bye. Vitality and Falcons lurk on the opposite side of the bracket, giving MOUZ a clear path to the grand final.
The MongolZ (#5 Valve, #6 HLTV)
Asia’s sole representative dominates lower-ranked teams but struggle against elites (Vitality, Falcons, MOUZ). Their playoff run hinges on avoiding these juggernauts early.
Aurora (#6 Valve, #5 HLTV)
Fresh off a third place finish at PGL Astana, Aurora showed resilience by avenging their group loss to HEROIC in the elimination match. A dark horse if they maintain momentum.
Playoffs Opening Matches
Falcons (-724*) vs. GamerLegion (+439*)
Falcons are the heavy favorites in this matchup, which is clearly reflected in the odds. Their superior player profiles and extensive experience give them a significant edge over GamerLegion. Interestingly, both teams have maintained impressive win rates of over 70% on Ancient during the past three months, which could present GamerLegion with their best opportunity to challenge Falcons. However, when considering overall strength and recent form, Falcons appear to be a strong choice to cover the -1.5 handicap at -172* odds.
Bet: Falcons vs. GamerLegion odds
The MongolZ (-121*) vs. Aurora (-100*)
While both teams currently share identical standings, Aurora has shown slightly more promising form in recent matches, most notably with their clean sweep victory over The MongolZ in the PGL Astana quarterfinals. A closer look at map statistics reveals a significant advantage for Aurora on Mirage, where they boast an 87.5% win rate over the past three months - particularly noteworthy as this is The MongolZ's preferred first pick despite their comparatively lower 66.7% success rate on the same map. Although the Money Line odds currently lean slightly in favor of The MongolZ, Aurora at -100* presents intriguing value given these contrasting map performances and recent head-to-head results.
Bet: The MongolZ vs. Aurora odds
*Odds subject to change
