The match between Inner Circle and Gentle Mates in the 2-0 bracket of the first stage of ESL Pro League Season 22 promises to be a real test for both teams. The winner of this clash will advance directly to the second stage of the tournament, making the stakes extremely high. Both squads come into the game in solid form, but with a slight edge, Inner Circle are seen as the favorites thanks to their stability in recent matches and their ability to hold their own against ambitious opponents.
How the Bookmakers See It: Inner Circle as Favorites
Bookmakers consider this matchup quite even, though they still give a slight advantage to Inner Circle. The team has shown more consistent results in their recent series and has reliable maps where they can dictate the pace. Gentle Mates look dangerous with their surprising victories over tier-one opponents, but their lack of stability prevents them from being seen as full-fledged favorites. This is why analysts lean toward Inner Circle having slightly better chances of winning, even if the victory comes in a tough best-of-three.
Current Form of Inner Circle: What to Expect from Inner Circle
Inner Circle enter ESL Pro League Season 22 in good form. Over the past three months, they have played 25 maps and won 14. In September–October, they stood out in ESEA Advanced Season 54 Europe, where they reached the finals and finished in 2nd place. This shows a stable level of play and readiness to compete at a higher tier.
- Inner Circle roster: cairne, Dawy, Flierax, nifee, onic
From their last five matches, Inner Circle secured four wins – against GamerLegion, 3DMAX, 1win, and Insilio, losing only to K27. This series of results boosts their confidence and proves they can beat both experienced and up-and-coming teams.
Current Form of Gentle Mates: What to Expect from Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates have had a busier schedule – in the past three months, they have played 35 maps, winning 18. The young squad has been actively testing themselves across different tournaments. In September–October, they placed 5–6th at DraculaN Season 1, took 2nd at Radio Popular Roman Imperium Cup II, and reached the playoffs of StarLadder StarSeries Fall 2025, finishing 4th.
- Gentle Mates roster: mopoz, dav1g, sausol, alex, Martinez
In their last five matches, Gentle Mates defeated G2, HEROIC, and PARIVISION, but lost to ex-Inner Circle and B8. This highlights their potential, but also their inconsistency: they can upset top-tier teams yet stumble against less renowned opponents.
Map Pool of Inner Circle
Inner Circle traditionally ban Inferno, after which their main choice is Mirage, where they have a solid 65% win rate across 17 games. Their second ban will most likely be Ancient, to deny Gentle Mates one of their strongest maps. In this way, Inner Circle aim to narrow the pool down to their comfort picks and avoid giving their rivals key advantages.
Map Pool of Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates, on the other hand, usually remove Dust2, since Inner Circle boast strong results there. Their go-to pick is expected to be Nuke, where they hold a 68% win rate and Inner Circle look much weaker. For their second ban, Gentle Mates will likely take out Train, preventing Inner Circle from playing one of their best maps. As a result, the most probable decider would be Overpass, which is very favorable for Gentle Mates but less comfortable for Inner Circle.
Head-to-Head Record
In the past six months, the teams have not faced each other. This makes the upcoming match even more intriguing, as neither side has direct experience against the other.
Match Prediction Inner Circle vs Gentle Mates: Battle For the Second Stage of ESL Pro League S22
A tense and even contest is expected. Inner Circle come into this series in good shape, with four wins in their last five matches and consistent performances against teams of their caliber. Gentle Mates, meanwhile, have proven they can take down top-tier squads, but their inconsistency raises questions about their stability.
The map veto will play a crucial role: Gentle Mates should have the upper hand on Nuke, while Inner Circle will look to seize control on their comfortable Mirage. If the series goes to a decider, Overpass could become the ultimate battleground.
Prediction: Inner Circle to win 2:1, edging out their opponents with minimal advantage.
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