Trent Reinsmith
- What: ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18 Group C
- Where: InterContinental Hotel in Saint Julian’s
- Date: Wednesday, September 13, 2023 – Sunday, September 17, 2023
- How to Watch: Twitch
Thirty-two of the best CS:GO teams in the world are in Malta to compete in Season 18 of the ESL Pro League CS:GO event. The first of the four Group Stages of the tournament began on Wednesday, August 30. The event, which features a total prize pool of $850,000, comes to a close on October 1, 2023.
This week, the second week of the Group Stages, the following teams open the event, participating in Group C: FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, Fnatic, Apeks, 9z Team, Imperial, M80, and 5yclone.
The Group Stage sees the 32 CS:GO teams divided into four triple-elimination format groups. The top four teams from each eight-team group advance to the single-elimination playoffs. All of the ESL Pro League Season 18 CS:GO matchups will be played in a best-of-three series. The Grand Finals will be a best-of-five format.
Last year, FaZe Clan took home the Season 17 title and the top prize of $200,000. They topped Cloud9 in the Grand Final 3-1. FaZe Clan is in Group C in 2023, and Cloud9 is part of Group D.
Before we look at the betting breakdown of Group C of the ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18, check out the best sites for betting on CS:GO events, and while you’re at it, take a look at the best sports betting apps and mobile options.
ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18 Group C betting breakdown
| To Win ESL Pro League Season 18 CS:GO Group A |  |  |  |
| FaZe Clan | +110 | +110 | +110 |
| Natus Vincere | +137 | +135 | +137 |
| Fnatic | +750 | +750 | +750 |
| Apeks | +900 | +900 | +900 |
| 9z Team | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Imperial | +3300 | +3300 | +3300 |
| M80 | +6600 | +6600 | +6600 |
| 5yclone | +10000 | +10000 | +10000 |
FaZe Clan
The Season 17 champions are back and looking to defend their ESL Pro League CS:GO title. FaZe Clan took home first place and $200,000 in prize money at that event by downing Cloud9 3-1. Things have not gone the team’s way since that victory. They placed 9th-12th at Intel Extreme Masters Rio, 5th-8th at the BLAST.tv Paris Major, 3rd-4th in Dallas, 5th-6th at the BLAST Premier: Spring Final, 9th-12th at the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne, and most recently at Gamers8.
In response to the team’s struggles, FaZe Clan picked up a new interim head coach in NEO in late July. As a unit, the team has been playing together for well over a year.
Natus Vincere
Natus Vincere finished ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 17 in a respectable 3rd-4th place. However, the European team has not won a major CS:GO event since they took home first place at the BLAST Premier: Spring Final in 2022, which took place last June.
The squad is coming into Group C of Season 18 following a 7th-8th place finish at Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023 and 5th-8th place at Gamers8.
Unlike FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere has tried to shake things up this year, adding three new members to its roster in June in Aleksib, jL, and iM.
Fnatic
Fnatic did not have a strong performance in Season 17 of the ESL Pro League, finishing the event in 13th-16th place, and the European squad has gone nearly four years without winning a major CS:GO event. The team is coming off a 13th-16th place finish in Dallas, a 9th-12th place at Cologne, and most recently finished Gamers8 in 9th-16th place.
Like Natus Vincere, Fnatic recently changed up its roster, looking to break out of its prolonged slump, picking up afro and dexter in early July. The rest of the team has been together since mid-2022.
Best bet to win Group C of ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18
At the very least, competition in Group C of the ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18 will allow one team to put their recent struggles behind them. None of the teams in this group are playing particularly well as of late, but historically, FaZe Clan has played the best, and that may be why they are the betting favorites to win the group. With that being said, My betting pick for Group C is Natus Vincere.
Best betting pick: Natus Vincere to win Group C of ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18
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