One of the most intense matchups of the fifth Swiss round at PGL Major Astana 2025 is set to unfold as ODDIK face off against Aurora Gaming for a spot in the playoffs. Both teams sit at 2–2 — the winner moves on, the loser goes home.
Road to the Decider
ODDIK began their campaign with a loss to Astralis, but bounced back strongly in round two by upsetting G2 in a 2–1 series. This was the Brazilians’ first major statement at the event. They followed it up with a dominant 2–0 win over paiN Gaming, but struggled in the fourth round, losing 0–2 to FURIA, setting up this elimination match.
Aurora Gaming started with a defeat against BIG, but quickly regained balance by beating HOTU in a BO3. Their third-round win against Ninjas in Pyjamas was one of their most confident showings, demonstrating the full potential of the roster. However, a 0–2 loss to NaVi in round four brought them to the brink — just like ODDIK, Aurora now face a do-or-die match.
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Team Form: Current Shape and Style
ODDIK, led by WOOD7, bring an energetic playstyle that balances aggression with structure. Their main weapon is matios, a consistent fragging force. The addition of naitte and ksloks has added speed and unpredictability, though the team still occasionally falters in high-pressure situations.
Aurora Gaming have grown far more experienced since acquiring the former Eternal Fire lineup. With star power like XANTARES and woxic, and tactical leadership from MAJ3R, they’ve become a serious threat. This roster has everything — experience, aim, and coordination. Especially dangerous are the moments when XANTARES hits his stride — at that point, Aurora become extremely hard to stop.
Map Pool & Possible Scenarios
ODDIK are confident on Anubis and Ancient. On Anubis, they frequently apply pressure with early aggressive peeks and fast site executions, aiming to seize control before the midpoint of rounds. Ancient fits their game well — mid and lane control, minimal rotations, and lots of freedom for matios to make plays.
Aurora Gaming, in contrast, possess a deeper map pool, allowing flexibility in vetoes. Their strongest maps include Anubis, Mirage, and Nuke. Anubis stands out as a tactical playground for MAJ3R, where XANTARES often dominates key zones. Mirage lets players like woxic fully express themselves in open duels and fast retakes.
If the match goes to a third map, Nuke is the most likely decider — a map that blends pace and structure. Both teams are capable on it, but Aurora have a slight edge due to superior rotations and more refined teamplay on the CT side.
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Key Players and Duels
- matios vs woxic – a classic AWP vs AWP battle. Whoever gains the upper hand will control the tempo.
- WOOD7 vs MAJ3R – a clash of in-game leaders. WOOD7 sticks to fundamentals, while MAJ3R brings calculated unpredictability.
- naitte vs XANTARES – a key duel on the flanks. If XANTARES gains early momentum, naitte will be under pressure in every round.
Prediction
This match could easily be one of the most evenly contested in the 2–2 bracket. Both teams have shown the ability to beat stronger opponents, but Aurora have the edge in map depth and consistency from their star players. If ODDIK don’t get a favorable Anubis pick, they may struggle to stay in control.
Prediction: Aurora Gaming win 2–1.
ODDIK vs Aurora is a classic clash of styles — Brazilian aggression versus Eastern European structure. It’ll come down to fine margins: who adapts quicker, who wins the clutch moments, and who can hold their nerve. One thing’s for sure — this match will be intense.
