“CS2 Fans, Don’t Miss This! ESL Pro League S21 Brings Elite Teams & Epic Battles”
Counter-Strike Fans, Get Ready for a Thrilling Showdown!
ESL Pro League Season 21 is set to bring the world’s top 24 Counter-Strike 2 teams to Sweden for an intense battle of strategy, skill, and raw firepower. This high-stakes tournament, running from March 1st to March 16th, boasts a massive $400,000 (£317,680) prize pool, with the champion claiming a hefty $100,000 (£79,420). More than just cash is on the line—this is the first opportunity for a team to take a step toward the coveted Intel Grand Slam in 2025.
If you’re gearing up to watch, we’ve got you covered with all the details, including schedule breakdowns, teams to keep an eye on, and where to catch all the action live.
A New Chapter for ESL Pro League
For the first time, the ESL Pro League will be held at the ESL Studio in Stockholm, Sweden, breaking away from its previous home in Malta after a long-standing partnership with GamingMalta ended. With this shift in location, the league also sees new qualification rules—teams now qualify based on Valve’s Global Rankings rather than a semi-franchised partner model. This change opens the door for more competition, allowing Tier 2 teams to qualify via the ESL Challenger League.
The number of participating teams has also been reduced from 32 to 24, intensifying the competition and raising the stakes for every match.
ESL Pro League S21 Format & Schedule
The tournament consists of two intense stages leading up to the grand finale:
- Stage 1 (March 1-5): Sixteen teams compete in a Swiss stage format, with best-of-three matches. Lower-seeded teams can gain extra points for defeating higher-ranked opponents. The top eight squads move on.
- Stage 2 (March 7-11): Another Swiss format featuring the eight teams that survived Stage 1, plus the eight highest-ranked teams in Valve’s Global Standings as of January 6, 2025. The top eight teams advance to the playoffs.
- Playoffs (March 13-16): A single-elimination bracket decides the champion. Quarterfinals and semifinals are best-of-three, while the Grand Final is an epic best-of-five showdown.
Teams to Watch in ESL Pro League S21
With so many elite squads competing, here are a few you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on:
- Team Vitality – Fresh off a dominant win at IEM Katowice, they are currently one of the strongest teams in the world. Superstar player Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut has already tied NAVI’s s1mple for the most MVP titles in CS2 history.
- Team Spirit – After falling just short against Vitality in Katowice, they’re hungry for revenge. With multiple major victories in the past two years, they’re a top contender for the trophy.
- Team Falcons – Following a massive roster shuffle, they’ve built a powerhouse lineup featuring Nikola ‘NiKo’ Kovač. Their aggressive playstyle could shake up the tournament.
- NAVI (Natus Vincere) – Always a threat, NAVI nearly defeated Team Spirit in IEM Katowice, showing they have what it takes to go the distance.
Full List of Competing Teams
The eight teams directly invited to Stage 2 based on VRS rankings:
- G2 Esports
- Team Spirit
- The MongolZ
- Team Vitality
- Natus Vincere
- MOUZ
- Team Liquid
- Team Falcons (invited after acquiring most of HEROIC’s roster)
The 16 teams competing in Stage 1, qualified via VRS rankings and ESL Challenger events:
- FURIA
- 3DMAX
- Eternal Fire
- GamerLegion
- FlyQuest
- SAW
- HEROIC
- Nemiga Gaming
- M80
- NRG
- TYLOO
- Lynn Vision
- paiN Gaming
- MIBR
- Mindfreak
- Housebets
Where to Watch ESL Pro League S21
Unlike previous editions, there won’t be a live audience this year—all matches will take place in a private setting. However, fans won’t miss a second of the action with these streaming options:
- Twitch – Catch all matches live on ESL’s official Counter-Strike Twitch channel.
- YouTube – ESL Counter-Strike’s YouTube channel will also stream games live and provide free on-demand replays.
Final Thoughts
ESL Pro League Season 21 promises to be one of the most exciting CS2 events of the year. With a packed lineup of elite teams, a new qualification system, and the first step toward the Intel Grand Slam on the line, every match will be high-stakes and thrilling. Mark your calendars, set your reminders, and get ready for some top-tier Counter-Strike action!
