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- What: ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18 Group A
- Where: InterContinental Hotel in Saint Julian’s
- Date: Wednesday, August 30, 2023 – Sunday, September 3, 2023
- How to Watch: Twitch
Thirty-two of the best CS:GO teams in the world are on their way to Malta to compete in Season 18 of the ESL Pro League CS:GO event. The first of the four Group Stages of the tournament begins 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 following teams open the event, participating in Group A: Team Vitality, Astralis, Ninjas In Pyjamas, FURIA, GamerLegion, Movistar Riders, Grayhound, and ORKS.
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 A 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 A betting breakdown
| To Win ESL Pro League Season 18 CS:GO Group A |  |  |  |
| Team Vitality | -150 | +100 | +100 |
| Astralis | +450 | +400 | +400 |
| Ninjas In Pyjamas | +700 | +700 | +700 |
| FURIA | +750 | +700 | +700 |
| GamerLegion | +800 | +800 | +800 |
| Movistar Riders | +1200 | +1100 | +1100 |
| Grayhound | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| ORKS | +7500 | +7500 | +7500 |
Team Vitality
In Season 17 of the ESL Pro League CS:GO, Team Vitality was the top squad in Group C. They finished at the top of the group with a 2-0 win over eventual champions FaZe Clan. The European club, which plays out of France, made it to the quarterfinals of that tournament, bowing out in a 2-1 setback to ENCE. The 5th-8th place finish for Team Vitality earned them $35,000.
Team Vitality has been on a roll in 2023. The team, which has been working together as a unit since 2020, has first-place finishes at the following events: Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2023, BLAST.tv Paris Major, and Gamers8 2023, which just finished on August 20. They defeated MIBR, Natus Vincere, G2 Esports, and ENCE on the way to that victory. Those three tournament wins earned the team $1 million.
Astralis
This European club, which plays out of Denmark, did not make it out of the Group Stage in Season 17, ultimately finishing in 17th-20th place and winning $15,000. Astralis has shaken things up since that event ended, adding Staehr and b0RUP to their lineup in June. That roster had a decent showing at the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023 event in August, placing 3rd-4th in that tournament after losing to G2 Esports in the semifinal round. Astralis is coming off another 3rd-4th place finish heading into Group A of the ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18 event. The squad finished the Pinnacle Cup V tournament in that position, losing to 00 Nation in the semis.
Ninjas In Pyjamas
Like Astralis, Ninjas in Pyjamas finished in 17th-20th place in Season 17 of this event. The European team, which plays out of Sweden, did not shake up their roster after that finish. Instead, Ninjas in Pyjamas head into the Group Stage of ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18 with the same team they’ve had since January of this year.
In its two most recent events, the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023 and Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023: European Qualifier, the squad has struggled, placing 13th-16th in Cologne and fourth in Sydney. While Ninjas in Pyjamas are among the betting favorites to come out of Group A, they have a tough matchup in the opening round as they face Astralis. The winner of that matchup then moves on to face the victor of Team Vitality and ORKS.
Best bet to win Group A of ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18
There is not a lot of betting value in picking the betting favorite in Group A play of the ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18, but with the way they are playing, Team Vitality is the betting favorite in this group for a very good reason, anything outside of a victory for the team would be an enormous upset.
Best betting pick: Team Vitality to win Group A of ESL Pro League CS:GO Season 18
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