IEM Rio 2023 Playoffs Semifinals Preview: Odds & Predictions

While the Quarterfinals were awesome, the IEM Rio 2023 Playoffs Semifinals look to dial up the competition further. We’ve gathered everything you need to know in this esports betting preview, focusing on the upcoming matches:

• Natus Vincere vs Heroic
• Cloud9 vs Team Vitality

IEM Rio 2023 Playoffs Semifinals

IEM Rio, hosted by ESL is an S-Tier event featuring the top 16 CSGO teams in the world. Only four teams remain now, about to battle it out for a share of a quarter of a million prize pool and a spot at IEM Cologne.

Credit: ESL via Twitter (@IEM)

Held at Jeunesse Arena, in Rio, Brazil, the event will conclude on Sunday, April 23rd.

Find out more about this event in our dedicated IEM Rio 2023 betting preview.

In the Playoffs, a single-elimination bracket will determine the overall champion – one lifeline with BO3 matches.

Semifinals Schedule

Bearing this in mind, we’ve listed the upcoming matches as CSGO betting opportunities as scheduled below:

22nd April – Semifinals

• Cloud9 vs Team Vitality (17:00 CEST)
• Natus Vincere vs Heroic (20:30 CEST)

Cloud9 vs Team Vitality

In order to preview each match-up, we’re referred to odds provided by Thunderpick. As we’ve discussed in our Thunderpick review, the cryptocurrency betting site is offering some exciting coverage for IEM Rio. New customers will find a generous welcome bonus.

Originally, both Cloud9 and Team Vitality started in Group B. Many thought we’d see them face one another, but Team Vitality surprised everyone by falling early to OG.

Image credit: Cloud9 via Twitter (@C9CSGO)

Having to fight through the Lower Bracket, Team Vitality seeded into the Quarterfinals, where they swept aside the likes of BIG.

Meanwhile, Cloud9’s journey went as expected, ending up as the Group B winners and earning a spot in the Semifinals.

Now, these two teams finally have the chance to face one another. With Cloud9 and Team Vitality ranked 5th and 6th on the ESL World Rankings respectively, Vitality are favored here.

Beyond experience, a factor could possibly be that the last event that these teams attended together, the BLAST.tv Paris Major RMR B, Team Vitality placed much better.

Overall, this looks to be an incredible CSGO betting opportunity.

• Predictions: Cloud9 (1-2) Team Vitality
• Odds: Cloud9 Outright Win (2.10),  Team Vitality Outright Win (1.65)
• Betting Site: Thunderpick

Natus Vincere vs Heroic

Just like Cloud9 and Team Vitality, Natus Vincere are another team that many took for granted as a team who’ll make it to the semifinals.

On the other hand, Heroic were not entirely expected to make it this far. Although they placed 2nd at the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2023 event, many doubted their ability to replicate their prior performance.

Credit: ESL via Twitter (@IEM)

That was the community’s feeling after they lost to BIG in the Upper Bracket Semifinals, having to fight their way through the Lower Bracket. Having just taken down FURIA yesterday, getting here has involved a heroic effort.

Despite all of this, Na’Vi need no introduction and haven’t lost a single round so far in the competition – hence, the odds favor Natus Vincere to make it to the Grand Final.

• Predictions: Natus Vincere (2-1) Heroic
• CSGO Odds: Natus Vincere Outright Win (1.55), Heroic Outright Win (2.30)
• Betting Site: Thunderpick