M80 and ENCE will face each other in the first stage of ESL Pro League Season 22, and this match promises to be one of the most intriguing in the group. Both teams have their strengths, but M80 come into the matchup in better form and are considered the favorites thanks to their consistent play and strong map pool.
Bookmakers’ View: M80 as Favorites
Bookmakers see the match between M80 and ENCE as a tense battle, but give a slight edge to the American team. M80 have shown more stable results recently and boast a strong map pool, particularly on Overpass and Ancient, where they feel confident and can dictate the pace of the game.
ENCE, despite their potential and solid record on Dust2, have struggled with consistency and often underperform in key matches. The superior individual form of M80’s players and their proven strength on core maps make them the main contenders for victory in the eyes of bookmakers.
Current Form of M80: What to Expect
The American squad has been showing strong and stable form. Over the last three months, M80 have played 80 maps, winning 61 — an impressive win rate that highlights their confident play. However, their recent month has been more mixed: 1–3rd place at ESL Challenger League Season 50 North America Cup, 5–6th place at BLAST Open London 2025 Finals, and just 9–16th at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Closed Qualifier.
- M80 roster: Swisher, slaxz-, s1n, Lake, HexT
In their last five matches, M80 defeated fnatic, NAVI, and VP — proving they can beat top-tier opposition. Losses against OG and MOUZ, however, show they still lack consistency against Europe’s elite.
Current Form of ENCE: What to Expect
The Finnish organization played significantly more maps — 100 in the past three months — but with a lower success rate: 55 wins. This points to inconsistency and form issues. In the last month, ENCE competed in a range of tournaments, finishing as high as 2nd at Exort The Proving Grounds Season 4, but also suffering disappointing results such as 13–16th at ESL Challenger League Europe Cup 2 and 9–16th at CCT Series.
- ENCE roster: sdy, podi, Neityu, myltsi, rigoN
Their last five matches look better: wins over FUT, fnatic, and SAW, along with tough losses against Johnny Speeds and again FUT. ENCE can deliver strong performances against notable teams, but often stumble against less prominent opposition.
M80 Map Pool
M80 traditionally ban Train, making it their obvious first step. As their map pick, they are most likely to choose Overpass (18 plays, 83% win rate) or Ancient (17 plays, 82% win rate). Both are comfortable for them, but Overpass stands out as their main trump card. In the second ban round, M80 may remove Nuke or Mirage to avoid giving ENCE favorable options.
ENCE Map Pool
ENCE usually ban Inferno, and that looks to be the most likely choice again. For their pick, the team will likely opt for Dust2 (26 plays, 69% win rate) — a map where they have solid results. In the second ban phase, ENCE will likely remove Ancient, since it’s one of M80’s strongest maps. As for the decider, it will most likely come down to Overpass or Mirage, both of which promise an even contest.
Head-to-Head
Over the past six months, M80 and ENCE have not faced each other. This will be their first direct clash, which adds intrigue — with no shared history, the outcome will largely depend on preparation and adaptability.
Match Prediction: M80 vs ENCE – ESL Pro League S22, Stage 1
M80 approach this match in better shape — they look more stable against top-tier opponents and have a strong map pool with excellent win rates on Overpass and Ancient. ENCE, while experienced and battle-tested across many maps, often struggle in decisive moments and show uneven results.
A close series is expected, but overall, M80 have the edge and are more likely to win 2–1. They appear stronger individually and are better prepared for their own map picks, while ENCE will need to rely on Dust2 and hope to surprise in the decider.
Prediction: M80 to win 2–1
