ESL Pro League S22: Preview

Stage 1 of the ESL Pro League Season 22 has come to a close as we head into the main event starting tomorrow, 4th October 2025. A Swiss system group stage kicks off the event, matching winning and losing teams in their respective pools, until teams either secure three wins and qualify to the playoffs or concede three losses and drop out from the group stage. The playoffs with host a single-elimination bracket and the bo5 grand-final on 12th October 2025 will crown the winner.

The MongolZ, the only Asian team in the main event and the current world #1 are set to secure the top seed. While the opening matches are yet to be revealed, The MongolZ will likely face HOTU in their opening match, with FURIA taking on Inner Circle and Vitality taking on Gentle Mates. The MongolZ, Spirit, Vitality, Falcons, NAVI, FaZe and MOUZ bagged direct main event invites based on their Global VRS positions. Taking down FURIA, BetBoom and ENCE, HOTU cleared Stage 1 with a 2-0 record alongside Inner Circle who took down 3DMAX, GamerLegion and Gentle Mates.

FURIA, Astralis and G2 were on the verge of elimination in the 1-2 pool but all three pulled through with a scrappy 3-2. Loosing their initial games, 3DMAX and GamerLegion recovered and put up 3-1 runs alongside Gentle Mates who narrowly missed the 3-0. ENCE, who were up 2-0 lost to HOTU and then 3DMAX to end up in the 2-2 pool and eventually get eliminated by G2, fumbling a 2-0 start in the tournament.

The ESL Pro League Season 22 carries a prize pool of $1,000,000 USD and is set to be the second to last ESL event before the StarLadder Budapest 2025 Major. IEM Chengdu takes place a couple of weeks before 2025's second Major.