Dean Etheridge
The ESL Pro League in Malta is fast approaching the end of the group stages, and with not many teams left to play we take a look at Group D and bring you our Esports betting picks.
What Is The ESL Pro League?
The ESL Pro League is one of the main Esports betting events on the yearly roster. As a result, the top teams from around the world compete in the month-long festival every year.
This year’s tournament in Malta is from August 16th to September 12th. It is the 14th edition of the competition and has 24 teams fighting out for the $750,000 purse.
Already through to the next stage is Heroic, who topped Group A with five wins from their five fixtures.
Joining them in the next phase are fellow Danes OG, who topped Group B. Also with five wins from their five fixtures.
Group C still has a little way to go, but as things stand German outfit BIG top the table. This group looks very exciting, as at the moment the teams are all beating each other.
This is as opposed to Group’s A and B, which were both won by runaway winners.
Group C just got a whole lot more interesting…@FNATIC run over @FaZeClan in the series and take it 2-0!
16-14 Overpass
16-7 Mirage#ESLProLeague pic.twitter.com/dCi6JTTnea— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) August 29, 2021
Next up is Group D
The only remaining teams to compete are the is six teams who make up Group D. This section of the draw starts on Wednesday, September 1st, and runs until Sunday, September 5th.
So who are the six teams, and what are their betting odds?
| ESL Pro League Group D Betting |  |  |
| Gambit | -162.5 | |
| NiP | +500 | |
| Team Liquid | +500 | |
| FURIA | +900 | |
| Entropiq | +1200 | |
| TeamOne | +30000 |
Let’s take a more detailed look at the teams, starting with top sportsbooks favorites Gambit.
Gambit
The Russian-based team is just -162.5 to top the group and carry on their excellent form.
In the recent IEM Cologne competition held in July, Gambit made it to the quarter-finals.
Unfortunately, they were defeated two legs to one by Faze Clan, with the American outfit taking the deciding Map by 16 rounds to 9.
Nip
Ninjas in Pyjamas (as they are also known) are the joint-second favorites with top sportsbooks to win Group D.
They exited Cologne in the group stages, with heavy defeats to both Gambit and Virtus.Pro.
Their opening match is against Team Liquid on Wednesday, with whom they are contesting the second spot in the group, in the eyes of the sportsbooks.
Their final group match is the rematch with Gambit. This will be a real big clash should both sides go through the group undefeated before the final round of fixtures.
Team Liquid
Dutch side Team Liquid is also +500 to win Group D, and if they are to top the group, they will need to get off to a flying start against NiP on Wednesday.
Liquid is another side that failed to make it past the group stages in Cologne earlier this year.
FURIA
Another of the outsiders to win the group, FURIA is +900 to pull off a shock and top the table.
A more realistic bet on the Brazilian organization is to qualify from Group D. On this betting line, they are +137.5.
Entropiq
The Czech side is led by NickelBack and is fifth in the group betting at +1200.
If you think they can qualify, they are +200 to make the top 3.
They didn’t enjoy a great time at the Pinnacle Cup in July. But did bounce back well with four wins in the Eden Sports Playoffs earlier in August.
Don’t be surprised if these guys can cause an upset.
TeamOne
Last but not least in the betting is TeamOne.
Another Brazilian-based organization, TeamOne sits last on the Moneyline at +30000 to win Group D.
In To Qualify Betting, they are also outsiders. They are +7500 to make it into the top three.
Sadly for fans of TeamOne, I think the sportsbooks have got this one correct, and I give them little chance of causing any upsets.
Betting Picks
In their most recent tournament fixture, NiP beat Team Liquid 2 maps to 1.
The win in the deciding map was pretty decisive, with the Ninjas taking it 16 rounds to just 2.
I’m taking NiP to beat Team Liquid in their opening matchup of Group D for my pick. The Swedes are at -150 to beat their Dutch opponents on Wednesday, and this looks great value.
Both these sides know they have to win this match if they are to have any chance of winning the group, so it promises to be a hard-fought contest.
For my second pick, I’m going to have a look into the To Qualify from Group D market.
Group favorites Gambit is a ridiculously short -10000, so no, I’m not calling them out as my selection.
Team Liquid and NiP are both -250 to get in the top 3, and I’m expecting NiP to get one of those positions, given I expect them to beat Team Liquid on Wednesday.
So in the third position in the group, I’m going to take a punt on Entropiq to pull off a shock.
This is a speculative bet, so as regular readers will know, means I recommend using one of the many brilliant betting bonuses here in My Top Sportsbooks.
So my second Esports pick is Entropiq to qualify (finish in top 3) at +200 with BetUS.
