November is starting off hot for Counter-Strike fans as IEM Beijing kicks off around the world. Each region will see the best of the best battle it out, with North America’s teams competing from November 6 to November 22.
As always, this means a ton of competitive matches and plenty of betting opportunities. You can back any of the eight teams to win the event and then dive into each match as the event unfolds. If you were planning on placing any bets this month, then IEM Beijing is not one to miss.
See Odds Shark’s Best Esports Sites
Who’s playing at IEM Beijing North America?
IEM Beijing sees a bit of a different lineup than most NA events. All the favorites like Evil Geniuses, Liquid and Chaos are present, but there is one key team missing. Arguably the best team in the region, Furia, is currently in Europe and as such is set to miss out on this event.
This puts EG firmly in the driver’s seat as the favorite but does open up the event to a bit of unpredictability, as Furia won’t be there to blow through the competition.
Regardless, we’ll still see eight top teams at the event, playing through the usual group stage with two groups, followed by a single-elimination playoff. You can check out each team and their odds to win it below:
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Evil Geniuses | +150 |
| Team Liquid | +200 |
| Chaos | +700 |
| TeamOne | +900 |
| Triumph | +1100 |
| New England Whalers | +1300 |
| Rugratz | +1700 |
| Rebirth Esports | +2400 |
Odds as of November 3 at Sportsbook
Can Liquid finally take down Evil Geniuses?
The biggest rivalry of the event no doubt comes in the form of Evil Geniuses vs Liquid. Both teams are at the highest level of the North American scene and will be looking for a big win here with Furia not in attendance.
However, the main concern for Liquid will be what some fans consider to be the “EG curse.” Team Liquid hasn’t managed to defeat the tournament favorites for seven months now, last beating EG way back in April. They’ve since lost six series to the Geniuses and only really looked competitive in one, losing 3-2 at the end of August.
The two teams are likely to meet again in the playoffs and all eyes will be looking to see if Liquid has finally figured out EG.
Underdogs set to cause some Chaos
While the two favorites are that for a reason, they have shown some weaknesses. Evil Geniuses recently lost to 100 Thieves and even dropped a map to Triumph in September, while Liquid has been leaking maps all over the place.
Teams like Chaos, TeamOne, Triumph and New England Whalers have all shown some form lately and will be looking to do some damage. With only Liquid and EG being strong favorites, there are two playoff spots up for grabs, meaning there will be a tough contest to take them.
Chaos seems to be the most likely of the bunch to make something happen, having in the past beaten Furia and 100 Thieves, two teams that rival EG and Liquid. The roster does lack some competitive experience, but they have more than enough firepower to compete with the best. If you’re eyeing an underdog, then Chaos is the way to go. It wouldn’t be too surprising to see them steal a map or even a whole series from one of the big dogs.
However, Chaos isn’t the only team that can make the favorites sweat. TeamOne and New England Whalers are two of the hottest upcoming prospects in North America. Both teams have already shown some impressive skills, with the Whalers even beating Furia 2-0 at IEM New York. There’s really a world of possibility at IEM Beijing and just about anything could happen.
