The latest season of Counter Strike: Global Offensive's ESL Challenger League Europe got under way in October and there is plenty of action to come before it reaches its conclusion later this month.
The online event organised by ESEA features 24 teams and has a prize pool of $50,000.
The event, which is in its 43rd season, goes straight into playoffs which are played in a double-elimination bracket with all matches in a best-of-three format with the exception of the Grand Final, which is played in a best-of-five format.
On Tuesday, the matches continue with two taking place in the lower bracket. There is a lower-bracket third round encounter between 9INE and ECSTATIC, while HEET and Sangal lock horns in the last lower-bracket first round match.
9INE look to build on title success
What: 9INE vs ECSTATIC
Where: Europe
When: 18.00, Tuesday 6th December 2022
Odds: 9INE 8/15, ECSTATIC 11/8
Polish outfit 9INE were crowned winners of the last season of the ESL Challenger League Europe, securing a spot in the next season of the EPL Conference as a result.
But they failed to start season 43 of the ESL Challenger League on a winning note, losing their first upper-bracket contest against forZe 2-1, going down on Dust II and Nuke.
As a result they were knocked down to the lower bracket but won their first game 2-0 against Falcons and are 8/15 to follow that up with victory over ECSTATIC.
ECSTATIC have looked unconvincing recently
ECSTATIC are considered an inferior team to 9INE at least as far as the HLTV world CS:GO rankings are with the Danish side down in 87th spot.
Their most recent event was the Energive Cup, but they failed to make an impact in the C-Tier event, crashing out in the semi-finals.
They did not even get to play their first lower-bracket game with opponents Eternal Fire having withdrawn from the event entirely and consequently sending ECSTATIC through to the next round.
ECSTATIC did of course play their opening match in the upper bracket and, although they won the first match against Entropiq, they lost the subsequent two 16-5 and 16-3.
ECSTATIC lack the experience of their Polish counterparts, who are priced right to win this one and could represent value at -1.5 on the match handicap at 7/4.
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HEET aim to bounce back from recent disappointment
What: Sangal vs HEET
Where: Europe
When: 18.00, Tuesday 6th December 2022
Odds: Sangal 13/8, HEET 4/9
HEET's most recent involvement in a CS:GO event saw them crash out in the group stage of the Elisa Masters Espoo in Finland, having lost three of their five games and finishing below Sprout, ENCE and BIG.
But they nonetheless find themselves ranked 31st in the HLTV world CS:GO rankings and were playing in season 16 of the ESL Pro League only a matter of months ago.
They were also underwhelming in that event, finishing bottom of their group on that occasion, but it is fair to say they are more exposed to bigger tournaments than opponents Sangal and this is the kind of match they should be winning.
Sangal find themselves in this position after having been knocked out of the upper-bracket by SINNERS 2-1 in their first game, whereas HEET at least made it to the second round of the upper bracket before being relegated, beating K23 but losing to a strong Spirit side.
Even against Spirit, though, HEET pulled off a big win on Nuke and they only narrowly lost 31-28 on Dust II - the first map of that contest.
Sangal lack key experience
Sangal's most noteworthy tournament of recent months was the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown Europe but they failed to come through that and secure a berth in the BLAST Premier Fall Finals.
They lack the big-event experience that HEET have in their locker and HEET look about right at 4/9 to win this one.
