Down Under Dollars: The Ultimate IEM Melbourne Wagering Guide
Counter-Strike heads back Down Under from April 21–27 as the world’s best teams clash for their share of a $1 million prize pool at IEM Melbourne. Our experts have dissected every opening matchup across Groups A and B—read on for top value wagers, must‑watch storylines, insider tips.
Format and Prize Pool
Group Stage
- The 16 teams are divided into 2x Groups in a double-elimination GSL format.
- All matches a Best of 3
- Top 3x teams from each Group progress to the Playoffs
Playoffs
- Single-Elimination Bracket
- All matches except the Grand Final are Bo3
- Grand winal will be Bo5
Prize Pool
Total Prize Pool: $1,000,000
🏆 1st Place: $125,000
🥈 2nd Place: $50,000
🥉 3rd Place: $25,000
Group A Match-Ups
Mouz (#1) vs BIG (#8)
Currently sitting at #2 on the VRS and #3 on HLTV, MOUZ arrives in Melbourne firing on all cylinders. At BLAST Open Lisbon, they upset Spirit, G2 and Eternal Fire/Aurora before pushing Vitality to a thrilling fifth map in the Grand Final. Now they kick off Group A against a BIG squad that narrowly missed out on the BLAST.tv Austin Major—falling 2–1 to Astralis—and will be desperate to derail MOUZ’s momentum. Expect BIG to come out swinging, but MOUZ’s form makes them the clear favorite.
Tip: Correct Score - Mouz 2-0 @ $1.69
3DMAX (#4) vs GamerLegion (#5)
3DMAX have been on fire, cracking the VRS top 10 at #9. In Bucharest, they edged The MongolZ, Astralis and Aurora each by 2–1 before bowing out to FaZe in the playoffs. GamerLegion, meanwhile, sit at #12 and have hit a rough patch—capped by a 2–1 loss to SAW that derailed their Austin Major run—making this opening clash a clear test of form.
Tip: Match Betting - 3DMAX @ $1.69
FaZe (#3) vs paiN (#6)
FaZe lost superstar ‘ropz’ to Vitality before PGL Bucharest yet still defied expectations with a third‑place finish. Now at IEM Melbourne, they face 16th‑ranked paiN in what looks like a straightforward clash—but paiN’s ferocious aggression, paired with FaZe’s occasional slow starts, means the Brazilians could snatch the opening match-up.
Tip: Correct Score - FaZe Clan 2-0 @ $1.51
The MongolZ (#2) vs Complexity (#7)
The MongolZ stumbled out of the gate in Bucharest—falling to 3DMAX and Apogee—but rallied with wins over Liquid and Furia before finishing 9th–11th. Complexity, by contrast, shrugged off expectations to claim 4th place and coasted into the Austin Major through the qualifier. With North American pride on the line, Complexity look to extend their dream run, while The MongolZ will be keen to reclaim momentum—this one promises high drama.
Tip: Over/Under Maps - Over 2.5 @ $2.09
Group B Match-Ups
Vitality (#1) vs FlyQuest (#8)
FlyQuest, Melbourne’s hometown heroes, arrive dreaming of upsets and a playoff run—but they’ll have to get past an absolute buzzsaw in Vitality. The world’s #1 team arrives undefeated from IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League and BLAST Open Lisbon, and looks poised to steamroll their local rivals in the opener.
Tip: Correct Score - Vitality 2-0 @ $1.42
Liquid (#4) vs Virtus.pro (#5)
Both Liquid and Virtus.pro endured forgettable runs at PGL Bucharest—Liquid rolled over in three straight losses to Legacy, VP and The MongolZ, while VP squeaked into the playoffs only to be swept 2–0 by G2. With Liquid still finding their rhythm under new IGL 'siuhy', don’t expect much to change; back VP for a decisive 2–0 that could ignite their Melbourne campaign.
Tip: Correct Score - Virtus.pro 2-0 @ $4.61
Falcons (#3) vs SAW (#6)
Falcons arrive in Melbourne riding high after their first big win at PGL Bucharest—and the addition of superstar Awp-er 'm0NESY' only sweetens the momentum. Their opponents, SAW, failed to qualify for the Austin Major after ENCE knocked them out and will be hunting for any Falcons stumble—especially with rumors swirling around coach zonic’s future. If SAW can strike early on any slow starts, this opener could deliver one of the tournament’s biggest upsets.
Natus Vincere (#2) vs MIBR (#7)
NaVi and MIBR would’ve been a marquee showdown in years past, but both arrive in Melbourne with muted expectations. NaVi still hold the edge—ranked #10 on the VRS and boasting superior firepower—making a 2–0 victory the probable outcome. That said, MIBR’s trademark Brazilian flair and relentless aggression mean an upset can’t be completely ruled out; if NaVi stumble early, look for MIBR to pounce and steal a map.
Tip: Correct Score - Natus Vincere 2-0 @ $1.86
Our Top Tip:
Team: Vitality
There’s no hotter squad in CS2 right now. Vitality have been flawless in every big event this spring—Katowice, ESL Pro, BLAST Open Lisbon—and show no signs of slowing. Back them for a dominant tournament run, with best odds on match wins, map spreads, and even the overall title.
Team To Watch
Team: Mouz
After top‑three finishes in back‑to‑back BLAST events and their fierce VRS ranking, Mouz have all the tools to upset the established order. Their aggressive CT setups and strategic mid‑round calls make them a sleeper threat—watch for them to break out early and challenge for deep playoff runs.
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All odds are correct as of 11pm UTC, 20th April 2025
