In today's esports action, Michael Lee is back with his betting coverage for three ESL Challenger League Season 43: Europe matches on Tuesday, December 13. Today, he takes a close look at an upper bracket semi-final match between SAW and BLUEJAYS and two lower bracket fixtures in forZe vs Fnatic Rising and Endpoint vs 9INE.
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Esports Betting Tips: Tuesday December 13th
SAW vs BLUEJAYS
ESL Challenger League Season 43: Europe
BLUEJAYS looked incredible last week when they won IESF World Esports Championship 2022 representing North Macedonia while losing only one series against Team IESF (Team QUAZAR) in the upper bracket semi-final. Besides that loss, BLUEJAYS looked dominant in their victories against Indonesia, Germany, in the rematch against Team IESF, and Mongolia.
I wouldn’t say that the level of competition at IESF World Esports Championship 2022 was very tough, but I also can’t say that BLUEJAYS didn’t play well. Before that tournament, the North Macedonian squad have had an up-and-down run, winning five of nine games, and facing squads of similar quality to what we see in the ESL Challenger League.
SAW also saw some success this month. They won ESL Masters España Season 12 and Master League Portugal Season 10, just days after finishing Circuito Retake Season 5 in second place. Although good results, SAW, much like BLUEJAYS, didn’t face stiff opposition across those outings.
Based on what I’ve seen from BLUEJAYS and SAW lately, I have no clear favourite. SAW have been more consistent over the last months, but I wouldn’t rank them much higher than BLUEJAYS, who have also picked up some big games. This should be a bloody affair that just might reach three maps.
ForZe vs Fnatic Rising
ESL Challenger League Season 43: Europe
ForZe already beat Fnatic Rising (2-0) in the first round of ESL Challenger League Season 43: Europe, so they should be able to do it again. At least that’s what the esports bookmakers would lead us to believe by pricing forZe as $1.22 favourites and Fnatic Rising as $4.00 underdogs.
But I believe that Fnatic shouldn’t be priced nearly as large as they are. They look weaker and should lose this match more times than not, but anything above $3.00 just doesn’t sound right.
Even though Fnatic Rising lost its best player (Peppzor) at the start of the month, they played well without him against AGO (2-1) and ex-Team Finest (2-0). I wouldn’t say that they looked incredible, but they played solid CS, which just might be enough to defeat forZe.
ForZe are not as stong as they used to be, but this is stil a solid team. Unfortunately, they’re also very inconsistent. Their 4-1 run ahead of this match looks good, but it includes three-map series against Movistar Riders (2-1), VP.Prodigy (2-1), and a 1-2 defeat against HAVU.
ForZe also lost against AGO (1-2) and SAW (0-2) at the start of the month, and if they can’t beat AGO, then forZe have no business being priced as 1.22 favourites against Fnatic Rising. Value is with the underdogs.
Fnatic Rising to win
$4.00
Endpoint vs 9INE
ESL Challenger League Season 43: Europe
Endpoint have gone through quite a few roster changes this month and the team is still stumbling around. They won ESL Premiership Autumn 2022 last week, which counts for something, but Endpoint have been largely unsuccessful in tougher events such as CCT North Europe Series #2, where they finished fifth-eighth.
I have to acknowledge that Endpoint swept their opponents in the group stage with wins against eSuba (2-1), MASONIC (2-0), and ex-Team Finest (2-1). Since then, Endpoint have won just two of five games, so I wouldn’t call them the most consistent team.
9INE are similar to Endpoint, at least as far as consistency is concerned. The Polish squad entered the final week of November with a 1-4 record but have since won five of seven games, against opponents of similar quality than Endpoint, including eSuba (2-1), ECSTATIC (2-0), HAVU (2-0), and 777 Esports (2-1).
For this match, 9INE are 1.66 favourites, which has to do with Endpoint losing three of their last four games, but their recent results alone aren’t enough for me to pass on a plus money bet. Endpoint are not very strong, but they’re not weaker than 9INE. This is a 50-50 match, so if I can get any team above $2.00, I’ll gladly take it.
