ESL Challenger League S43 Europe betting tips – 13/12/2022

ESB brings you free Counter-Strike: Global Offensive picks for four ESL Challenger League Season 43 Europe fixtures on Tuesday, December 13. Check out our selections for Endpoint vs 9INE, forZe vs Fnatic Rising, Movistar Riders vs Sangal Esports, and SAW vs BLUEJAYS, with CS:GO betting odds courtesy of BetOnline.

Endpoint and 9INE last met in August 2022, when Endpoint won 16-11, but that was before the British team parted ways with Markus “Kjaerbye” Kjærbye and just weeks after 9INE formed the roster. So even though Endpoint are 1-0 up in the head-to-head, we would take that number with a grain of salt.

9INE enter this match on a streak of five wins and two losses, with wins against Team Falcons (2-0), 777 Esports (2-1), HAVU (2-0), eSuba (2-1), and ECSTATIC (2-0). Endpoint are 3-4 over the same stretch, with victories against Invictus Gaming International (2-0), ENCE Academy (2-0), and SAW (2-1).

9INE have not only performed better across the last couple of weeks, but they’ve also beaten stronger teams, so we have no issues with them holding the tag of the favourites for this match. Still, $1.55 is a bit too pricey, and we aren’t ready to believe that 9INE can sweep ($3.25), even though Endpoint aren’t in the best spot.

The map pool plays a significant role here, as Endpoint are strong on all of 9INE’s favourite maps, so while we believe 9INE should come out ahead, a three-map series seems a likely outcome.

ForZe and Fnatic Rising will meet in the fourth round of the lower bracket, marking a rematch from their ESL Challenger League Season 43: Europe opener on November 2, when forZe won (16-8, 16-12).

Since then, forZe have played 17 matches and won all but six (9-6). On the other side, Fnatic Rising have played just eight and won four – against MOUZ NXT (2-1, 2-1), AGO (2-1), and ex-Finest (2-0). Their victory against ex-Finest was impressive, but it also makes you wonder whether it was a fluke.

We’re not too high on Fnatic Rising, especially since the departure of Peppe “Peppzor” Borak, but they have been playing well for their standards. And if they can show the same form they had last week, the Black & Orange should be good for one map.

Movistar Riders enjoyed a solid start to the tournament and made it to the upper bracket quarterfinals by beating SINNERS Esports (2-1). Unfortunately, they were no match for BLUEJAYS, who beat them (16-13, 16-13) at the end of November.

Since that loss, Movistar Riders have played just one game and lost (1-2 vs forZe), marking their third consecutive in addition to a 1-2 defeat against SAW in ESL Masters España Season 12: Online Stage semifinals.

Sangal Esports lost their ESL Challenger S43 Europe opener against SINNERS (1-2) but bounced back with two wins against HEET (2-1) and Bad News Eagles (2-1). They’ve since not played a single match, but it’s been just five days, so it’s not like they head into this match rusty.

Esports betting sites have priced this bout at equal odds, but we would argue that Sangal should be favoured. At the offered prices, moneyline bet doesn’t appeal, so we’ll take a shot with Sangal to take advantage of Movistar Riders’ poor form and sweep.

SAW suffered their first defeat after a streak of four wins last Monday when they kneeled to Endpoint (1-2) in the first round of CCT North Europe Series #2 playoffs. Before that, they won against forZe (2-0), GTZ.ESPORTS (16-11), and For The Win Esports (2-1, 3-2).

Last week BLUEJAYS attended IESF World Esports Championship 2022, representing North Macedonia and won the championship with a 3-1 victory against Mongolia (IHC Esports). The tournament didn’t feature any great teams, but BLUEJAYS are at least winning games and look to be in great form.

Looking at the teams’ map pools, SAW hold a better win% on three maps in the rotation, including Ancient (90%-40%), Vertigo (60%-47%), and Nuke (58%-0%), but are weaker on Overpass (50%-70%), Inferno (45%-67%), Mirage (0%-75%), and marginally on Dust II (55%-57%).

On paper, this looks like SAW’s game, but they haven’t beaten any notable teams since October, and most of their success over the last three weeks came against regional rivals in FTW and GTZ. At the offered CS:GO odds, BLUEJAYS are a no-brainer pick.


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