Legacy and M80 meet in an elimination match at ESL Pro League Season 24, with both teams entering the fourth Swiss round on a 1–2 record. Legacy are the favourites, but their poor performance against 1win and the absence of arT give M80 a genuine chance to keep their tournament alive.

Legacy struggled badly against 1win

Legacy started the tournament with a competitive 2–1 defeat against PARIVISION. They recovered by beating ShindeN 2–0, but their progress was stopped by a disappointing performance against 1win.

The Brazilian side lost that series 2–0 and rarely looked capable of turning it around. That result was particularly concerning because Legacy entered the tournament as one of the highest-ranked teams in the field.

Legacy are currently ranked sixth in the world and have enjoyed an impressive year. They won IEM Atlanta, reached the final of ESL Pro League Season 23 and also produced several strong performances against elite opposition.

Their current situation is more difficult. In-game leader arT is unavailable, with bobz listed as a substitute for this match. Losing arT removes an important part of Legacy’s identity. His aggressive calls can occasionally create problems, but they also give the team direction and create space for dumau, latto and n1ssim.

Legacy still have plenty of firepower, but their performance against 1win showed that individual quality may not be enough when the team lacks its usual leadership.

M80 finally found a way to win

M80 had a difficult beginning in Katowice. They lost 2–0 against MOUZ in the opening round before suffering another 2–0 defeat against BetBoom.

That left the North American side one match away from elimination, but they responded by beating TYLOO 2–1. It was not a perfect performance, although securing their first victory should remove some of the pressure before this match.

Swisher, JBa and Lake give M80 enough firepower to punish mistakes, while slaxz- has been difficult to remove in recent months. His ability with the AWP could become especially important against a Legacy side that may struggle to maintain its usual structure.

M80 have also shown that they can compete internationally. Their results have been inconsistent, but they have gained valuable experience against stronger opposition throughout the year.

The map pool gives M80 an opportunity

Legacy have the higher ranking and the stronger recent results, but M80 have several possible routes through the veto.

M80 have won 75 percent of their recent matches on Dust2 and 80 percent on Mirage. Legacy have been far less convincing on those maps, recording win rates of 43 percent on Dust2 and 40 percent on Mirage.

Legacy should have an advantage on Cache, while both teams have shown weaknesses on Inferno. If M80 can secure one of their preferred maps and force the series onto a comfortable decider, this can become much closer than the rankings suggest.

The teams have already met twice in 2026, with Legacy winning both matches 2–0. The most recent meeting came at the Cologne Major, where one of the maps went to overtime before Legacy completed the sweep.

Those results favour the Brazilian team, but they were achieved with a different lineup. Playing without arT changes both Legacy’s calling and their aggressive style, which makes the previous meetings less useful when judging this match.

M80 can take advantage of Legacy’s changes

Legacy deserve respect for what they have achieved this season, but the timing of this match is difficult for them. They are coming off a flat 2–0 defeat and must prepare for an elimination series without their regular in-game leader.

M80 arrive with momentum after surviving their first elimination match. Their victory over TYLOO was not enough to make them clear favourites here, but it showed that they can handle the pressure of playing with their tournament life on the line.

The North American side must still improve its starts. Falling behind early would allow Legacy’s individual players to take control, even without their usual leader. M80 need to play patiently, avoid unnecessary opening deaths and use their advantage on maps such as Dust2 and Mirage.

This is unlikely to be a comfortable victory for either team. Legacy have more individual quality and a far better world ranking, but the lineup situation creates enough uncertainty to support the underdog.

Verdict

Legacy have beaten M80 twice this year and would normally be the clear choice. However, their defeat against 1win exposed several problems, and playing without arT is a significant disadvantage in an elimination match.

M80 have finally found some confidence after beating TYLOO and should get at least one favourable map in the veto. With Legacy forced to adjust their structure, M80 have a good opportunity to win a close three-map series.

Tip

M80 to win