ESL Pro League Season 23: Online Stage Preview

The competitive season in CS2 is only gaining momentum. We have already witnessed the continued dominance of Team Vitality, who claimed titles at IEM Krakow 2026 and PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026. In just a few days, ESL Pro League Season 23 will kick off. Despite Vitality not participating, the event remains highly significant. In this article, we’ll walk you through the tournament format, the teams, and what’s at stake.

ESL Pro League Season 23: Online Stage Schedule

ESL Pro League Season 23 will begin with Stage 1, which will be played online from March 1 to March 10. At this stage, 16 teams will compete in a Swiss system format, with all matches played as Bo3 series. At the end of Stage 1, the top eight teams will advance to Stage 2, where another 16-team Swiss stage with Bo3 matches awaits them. Following Stage 2, eight teams will secure their spots at the LAN Finals.

The first two stages of the tournament will last 10 days in total. Out of 24 participating teams, only eight will qualify for the ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals, which will be held in a LAN format at the Annexet in Stockholm.

ESL Pro League Season 23 is a great opportunity for lower-ranked teams in the VRS standings to prove themselves on a big stage. Although the level of competition in Stage 1 may not seem overwhelming, no opponent should be underestimated — even favorites can suffer unexpected defeats.

ESL Pro League Season 23: Online Stage Prize Pool

During the first and second stages of the tournament, teams will not be competing for major prize money, as the main financial rewards are reserved for the decisive matches.

In Stage 1, only eight out of 16 teams will advance, while the remaining eight teams will share $39,000 in prize money.

Stage 2 will feature even tougher competition, with teams facing strong opponents such as NAVI, FURIA, and MOUZ. Out of 16 teams, only eight will move on to the playoffs, while the other eight will split $185,000. Therefore, the main motivation in the early stages is not the prize money itself, but the opportunity to continue fighting for the title and significantly larger rewards in the final stage.

Favorites and Underdogs of the ESL Pro League Season 23 Online Stage

The online portion of ESL Pro League Season 23 will serve as the first serious test for many teams, and even at the start, clear favorites and potential underdogs can be identified.

Stage 1

In Stage 1, teams such as Astralis, PARIVISION, G2, and HEROIC are expected to perform confidently. Considering their recent tournament results and the level of their opposition, these squads should progress without major difficulties. They combine strong individual skill with solid experience at top-tier events.

Among the underdogs of Stage 1 are Gaimin Gladiators and SemperFi. Both teams made it through regional qualifiers, which is already a notable achievement. However, their lack of experience against higher-level opposition could play a decisive role in Bo3 matches.

Stage 2

Competition will become significantly tighter in Stage 2. Among the eight teams aiming for playoff spots, almost all have realistic chances of advancing. In particular, FURIA, Team Spirit, MOUZ, and NAVI stand out as strong contenders, consistently demonstrating the ability to handle the Swiss format.

Meanwhile, FaZe and B8 are not in their best form. They lack consistency and confident rounds in key moments, which they will need in order to challenge the top teams and surprise their opponents.

Nevertheless, Counter-Strike has repeatedly shown that favorite status guarantees nothing. The tournament may deliver unexpected results, where even top teams can lose in dominant fashion. That unpredictability is what makes the online stage especially intriguing.

Where To Watch ESL Pro League Season 23: Online Stage

Starting March 1, one of the key tournaments for teams aiming to establish themselves on the Tier-1 scene will begin. You can follow ESL Pro League Season 23: Online Stage on ESL’s official YouTube and Twitch channels.

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