IEM Rio 2023 Dark Horses

IEM Rio 2023 will be a great CS:GO event for many reasons. First of all, this is the same place that hosted the Major just six months ago. So we know in advance that the arena will be full of passionate fans that will cheer for their favorites from start to finish.

However, there is another reason why IEM Rio might prove to be one of the best CS:GO tournaments of the year. And it has to do with the number of potential dark horses. At the recent qualifiers for BLAST.tv Paris Major, we had the opportunity to watch a lot of relatively unknown teams in action. And they were phenomenal.

Here are two competitors that could easily turn into dark horses at IEM Rio 2023.

9INE

https://twitter.com/9INEGG/status/1647407344484065282

9INE are the new Polish hope. Since the glory days of Virtus.pro, Poland hasn’t had a single top team in CS:GO. And that probably gave a lot of Polish players the determination to be among those who can revive the country’s lost prestige in this amazing esport.

CS:GO is growing at a rapid pace and has reached more than 900.000 average concurrent players. But few of those players will know just how skilled Poland used to be at their favorite game. Now, 9INE might give them a sample of the good old days. And Jaroslaw “pashaBiceps” Jarzabkowski will probably be watching and cheering.

9INE already shocked the world by winning European RMR B despite all odds and defeating formidable opponents like G2 Esports, BIG, and Team Vitality in the process. If they manage to play at the same level, 9INE could easily finish in the top six at IEM Rio 2023.

Fnatic

https://twitter.com/FNATIC/status/1644401162827837440

Fnatic is another team that had a great run in the qualifiers for the Paris Major. They ended European RMR A with a perfect record and will be one of the Legends at the big event.

We rarely see the Swedes performing so well these days, but their recent performance makes them one of the teams to keep an eye on at IEM Rio 2023, especially if you’re a bettor.

Opportunities like the ones provided by 9INE and Fnatic don’t come that often and it’s always nice to know in advance what to look for. Despite the odds, these two teams could produce some massive upsets.

Header: ESL