
It’s time for one of the most highly anticipated CS:GO events of the year, the IEM Rio Major. With the Challenger stage kicking off today, the next few days will be filled with esports betting opportunities.
In particular, one of the top CS:GO teams in the world, Vitality, have found themselves in the Challenger stage. This has called their legitimacy into question for some fans so all eyes will be on them to see how they perform, including those of top betting providers.

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As with most CS:GO events, the IEM Rio Major has three different stages: Challengers, Legends and Champions. The first two take a Swiss system format, meaning the teams won’t necessarily face every other team in that stage.
One of the biggest surprises for fans and bookmakers alike so far is that Vitality are taking part in the Challengers stage alongside teams such as OG, who are playing their very first Major. This placement follows Vitality’s win of the ESL Pro League Season 16 and consistently high placements over the last few years.
That doesn’t mean fans won’t see Vitality in the Champions stage, however! They simply need to work a little harder. If they place in the top 8 of Challengers, they’ll proceed to Legends. A top 8 finish in the Legends will see them all the way to Champions.
Some teams have managed to skip the Challengers stage completely by directly qualifying to Legends. This gives some of the world’s top teams a significant advantage, not least because they won’t even start competing until November 5th. The teams already qualified are:
From a bettor’s perspective, understanding how CS:GO betting odds work and what you can bet on is a great place to start. From there, fans can select the best provider for them (including some esports bonuses!) and easily place their bets.
A Major is the perfect time to look into CS:GO betting, there are so many matches that it’s easy to find the right one for you and make the most of any bonuses that have wagering requirements on the higher side.
It’s best to turn to the experts when choosing from the list of top CS:GO betting providers and keep an eye out for odds. Similarly, a bunch of providers will also have live betting, giving fans the opportunity to keep up with all of the action live.
The tournament has only just begun so there’s plenty of time to get involved. The final 8 teams will be taking to the stage from November 10th, with the grand finals taking place on November 13th.