Monte and Apeks will meet in the first round of ESL Challenger League Season 44: Europe. I doubt very much that the Ukrainian team will be able to get a victory here, since it is generally unstable from match to match.
In turn, Apeks inspires a certain confidence, because at the end of last season the team performed very well, and even played several matches with eminent rivals.
In general, Monte can try his luck, but I don't see more than one card from this team.
Form Monte
The 46th team in the world ranking reached the finals of ESEA Season 43: Advanced Division - Europe, in which, by the way, it was Apeks who lost. At the same time, the Ukrainian team became the third on the Esport Tour 2022: Series #4, which definitely does not add points.
Already at the start of 2023, Monte managed to fail in the open qualifiers for the OMEN WGR Challenge 2023, which is generally monstrous, and also played terribly in the playoffs of the 322 Forward Cup tournament.
In general, it remains to wait for the next appearance of sdy on the server, but all this looks very sad and doubtful.
Monte's latest results:
- Victory over UNRAVEL with a score of 19:16.
- Victory over POLET with a score of 16:7.
- Lost to eClub Brugge 1:2.
- Technical defeat from IKLA.
- Victory over Viperio with a score of 2:0.
The best maps of Monte:
- Vertigo - 100% wins.
- Mirage - 84% of wins.
- Overpass - 60% of wins.
- Ancient - 56% of wins.
- Nuke - 56% win rate
It should be noted that the Ukrainian team is not shown on the Inferno map.
Form Apeks
The 37th team of the world ranking became the champion of ESEA Season 43: Advanced Division - Europe back in December, having shown a very cool game in the playoffs and returned from the lower bracket.
Then the European team reached the semi-finals of the CCT Central Europe Series #4, where they lost only to Astralis. However, Apeks looked good there too. Therefore, there is confidence that the team will try to develop success, especially with a full-fledged captain.
Apeks latest results:
- Victory over IKLA with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over Monte with a score of 3:2.
- Victory over 9INE with a score of 2:0.
- Victory over GamerLegion with a score of 2:0.
- Defeated by Astralis with a score of 0:2.
Best Apeks Maps:
- Overpass - 91% of wins.
- Mirage - 75% of wins.
- Ancient - 67% of wins.
- Nuke - 67% of wins.
- Vertigo - 60% of wins.
- Inferno - 50% win rate.
In turn, the Apeks team has not yet played on the Anubis map.
Monte vs Apeks Match Statistics
As part of the last season, the teams held one meeting - at ESEA Season 43: Advanced Division - Europe, the victory went to Apeks (3:2).
Prediction for the match Monte vs Apeks
If you look at the match logically, then Apeks just have huge chances to win and advance through the upper bracket. And you don't expect stable results from Monte either, because the team resembles a pendulum. Therefore, in this case, I would recommend betting on the victory of the Apeks team.