The ESL Pro League Season 20 Playoff Stage kicks off this Tuesday. The opening matches will be BIG vs. TheMongolZ and Virtus.pro vs. HEROIC. Four matches will be played on the first and second days of the playoff stage, and starting from the quarter-finals, two matches will be played each day until the Grand Final, which is set to be played on Sunday at 16:00 CET.
Playoff Stage Schedule
Playoffs round 1 (September 17)
- BIG vs. TheMongolZ and Virtus.pro vs. HEROIC starting at 12:00 CET
- Spirit vs. FURIA starting at 15:15 CET
- FaZe vs. Complexity starting at 18:30 CET
Playoffs round 2 (September 18)
- Eternal Fire vs. TBD (the winner of BIG vs. TheMongolZ) starting at 12:00 CET
- MIBR vs. TBD (the winner of Virtus.pro vs HEROIC) starting at 12:00 CET
- Imperial vs. TBD (the winner of Spirit vs. FURIA) starting at 15:15 CET
- Liquid vs. TBD (the winner of FaZe vs. Complexity) starting at 18:30 CET
Quarter-finals (September 19)
- M80 vs. TBD (the winner of MIBR vs. TBD) starting at 15:15 CET
- Vitality vs. TBD (the winner of Eternal Fire vs. TBD) starting at 18:30 CET
Quarter-finals (September 20)
- Natus Vincere vs. TBD (the winner of Imperial vs. TBD) starting at 15:15 CET
- G2 vs. TBD (the winner of Liquid vs. TBD) starting at 18:30 CET
Semi-finals (September 21)
- TBD vs. TBD starting at 15:15 CET
- TBD vs. TBD starting at 18:30 CET
Grand Final (September 22)
- TBD vs. TBD starting at 16:00 CET
Tuesday Matches Overview
BIG vs. TheMongolZ
BIG vs. TheMongolZ - ESL Pro League S20
BIG did well in a group stage, but they didn't play against the best teams yet, and it's hard to judge their consistency at this point. TheMongolZ had to play against Spirit in a group stage and were able to take one map out of them, which is a good sign of the team's current shape and their ability to take maps off top European teams. These two teams have never met each other before, so it is hard to even guess how it will go on.
Virtus.pro vs. HEROIC
Virtus.pro vs. HEROIC - ESL Pro League S20
These two teams have met a few times this year, and Virtus.pro is currently dominating with a 4-0 score over HEROIC. Both teams had similar results in their group stages, and it seems like whoever can maintain consistency will come on top in this match.
Spirit vs. FURIA
Spirit vs. FURIA - ESL Pro League S20
One of the best CIS teams, Spirit, isagainst one of the best Brazilian teams, FURIA. For the past eight matches, Spirit lost only one, and it was against another Brazilian team, MIBR, but other than that, they're in great shape. FURIA didn't meet a strong enemy in their group stage, and it's hard to say what kind of shape they're in. These two teams met before on six maps in total, and Spirit is currently dominating with a 6-0 score, leaving no chance for FURIA. It might be FURIA's chance to surprise and its Spirit's chance to keep their domination over FURIA.
FaZe vs. Complexity
FaZe vs. Complexity - ESL Pro League S20
Complexity did great in the group stage, and they were the ones who left no chance to continue in ESL Pro LeagueS20 for MOUZ, even though MOUZ was a huge favorite to win their match. It shows us that Complexity is ready to play against the best European teams, at least on their good day. FaZe is on its way to proving that it can get back to its level since it lost it sometime before, and this tournament is another chance for it to prove everyone wrong. FaZe did a great group stage run as well. These two teams last met in March at PGL Major Copenhagen, and FaZe won with a 2-0 score. So we will have to see how it will go after half a year.
We will be back with our predictions for the matches starting from the quarter-finals, so stay tuned!