<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIt wouldn\u2019t be surprising if in a pool questioning which of the six teams in the playoffs have the least chances to win IEM Katowice 2022, Virtus.Pro ends up in first. The CIS powerhouse just won ESL Challenger #48 before coming to Katowice, and they started strong in Poland, too. However, after getting beaten by Heroic, some doubts about this roster started to pop up. Sure, VP seems to be comfortably against teams like Copenhagen Flames, but do they have enough against more structured rosters like Gambit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet, as better as the other contender in the playoffs might look, we cannot discard VP. Jame, the team\u2019s captain, surely has his own style of AWPing \u2013 a very passive one \u2013 but it works. As mentioned above, FL1T and YEKINDAR are some of the best riflers the CIS region has to offer, and they have yet to show what they can truly do here. Timur “buster<\/em>” Tulepov<\/strong> has also been playing fairly well so far, making this roster even more dangerous.<\/p>\n\n\n\nVirtus.Pro success \u2013 or lack thereof \u2013 in the playoffs, is a matter of how far they current structure can take them. They will be facing G2 in their opening match, which actually will be a fairly good test of this roster. Much like VP, G2 seems to be struggling to control some maps, and they often rely on firepower. Which team will manage to more efficiently deploy their guns?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MORE THAN ENOUGH<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Gambit, Heroic and Na\u2019Vi are still aiming at the trophy of IEM Katowice 2022. Virtus.Pro in the other hand, might have gotten a reality-check during their game against Heroic, and reduced their expectations. While a tad disappointing, this isn\u2019t unexpected, as this team flaws on the tactical said become more and more prominent. It’s clear that teams like Heroic and Gambit will be exploiting them to break the FL1T \u2013 Jame \u2013 YEKINDAR formation. Other teams like Natus Vincere, will be able can overwhelm them with firepower.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, for Virtus.Pro, a playoffs finish is enough. They managed to beat the teams they should be beating after all. Unless their defeat to Heroic was just the result of a bad day \u2013 which is unlikely \u2013 it\u2019s hard to see Virtus.Pro winning a game in the playoffs. And for a team that\u2019s aiming to be the gate-keepers of the top five, this is fine. Is it satisfying? Absolutely not. Bound to hit their limits<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n