ESL Pro League Season 18: Teams, Schedule, and More
| Tags: CS:GO
| Author The Old One
ESL Pro League season 18 is set to bring a wave of five-week-long Counter-Strike action. Here is everything you need to know about the competition
As the next significant CSGO Tier 1 competition on the schedule, ESL Pro League Season 18 looms large, strategically timed before the eagerly awaited release of CS2. A total of 32 teams, representing various parts of the world, are gearing up to contend for the substantial $850,000 prize pool and a chance to qualify for the BLAST Premier World Final 2023. Here is everything you need to know about the mega event that is set to take place in St.Julian’s, Malta.
#ESLProLeague Season 18.
WELCOME TO CAMP COUNTER-STRIKE! 🏕️ pic.twitter.com/yLC2AMp9Yb
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) August 24, 2023
Contents
- 1 ESL Pro League Season 18 Stream: How To Watch?
- 2 ESL Pro League Season 18: List of Teams
- 3 ESL Pro League Season 18 Prize Pool
- 4 ESL Pro League Season 18 Format
- 5 ESL Pro League Season 18 Schedule
- 5.1 Wednesday, August 30 (Group A Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.2 Thursday, August 31 (Group A Mid Bracket Round 1)
- 5.3 Thursday, August 31(Group A Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- 5.4 Friday, September 1 (Group A, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.5 Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- 5.6 Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- 5.7 Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- 5.8 Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- 5.9 Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Upper Bracket Final)
- 5.10 Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Lower Bracket Final)
- 5.11 Wednesday, September 6 (Group B, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.12 Wednesday, September 7(Group B, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- 5.13 Wednesday, September 7(Group B, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- 5.14 Thursday, September 8 (Group B, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.15 Friday, September 9 (Group B, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- 5.16 Friday, September 9 (Group B, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- 5.17 Friday, September 9 (Group B, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- 5.18 Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- 5.19 Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Lower Bracket Final)
- 5.20 Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Upper Bracket Final)
- 5.21 Wednesday, September 13 (Group C, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.22 Thursday, September 14 (Group C, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- 5.23 Thursday, September 14 (Group C, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- 5.24 Friday, September 15 (Group C, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.25 Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Lower Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.26 Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- 5.27 Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- 5.28 Sunday, September 17 (Group C, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- 5.29 Sunday, September 17 (Group C, Lower Bracket Final)
- 5.30 Wednesday, September 20 (Group D, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.31 Thursday, September 21 (Group D, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- 5.32 Thursday, September 21 (Group D, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- 5.33 Friday, September 22 (Group D, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 5.34 Saturday, September 23 (Group D, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- 5.35 Saturday, September 23 (Group D, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- 5.36 Saturday, September 23 (Group D, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- 5.37 Sunday, September 24 (Group D, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- 5.38 Sunday, September 24 (Group D, Lower Bracket Final)
- 5.39 Tuesday, September 26 (Round of 16)
- 5.40 Wednesday, September 27 (Round of 12)
- 5.41 Thursday, September 28 (Quarterfinals)
- 5.42 Saturday, September 30 (Semifinals)
- 5.43 Sunday, October 1 (Grand Final)
ESL Pro League Season 18 Stream: How To Watch?
Fans can catch the action through primary and secondary live streams on the official ESL Gaming YouTube and Twitch platforms.
ESL Pro League Season 18: List of Teams
With participation from 32 teams, including the defending champions FaZe Clan, ESL Pro League Season 18 is gearing up for an intense and electrifying spectacle, featuring the crème de la crème of CSGO talent on an international level.
ESL Pro League Season 18 Full Lineup
ESL Pro League Season 18 participants will be divided into four groups of eight.
THE #ESLProLeague SEASON 18 GROUPS!
32 teams, 4 groups, 1 MONTH of Counter-Strike.
All groups have been seeded and drawn using the team's ESL World Ranking 🌍 pic.twitter.com/lGw16OAYew
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) June 23, 2023
Group A
- Vitality
- Astralis
- GamerLegion
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- FURIA
- Grayhound
- Movistar Riders
- ORKS
Group B
- Heroic
- ENCE
- MOUZ
- Monte
- BIG
- Evil Geniuses
- MIBR
- Rooster
Group C
- FaZe
- Natus Vincere
- Apeks
- Fnatic
- Imperial
- 9z
- M80
- 5yclone
Group D
- G2
- Cloud9
- Virtus.pro
- Liquid
- 9INE
- Complexity
- Eternal Fire
- Lynn Vision
ESL Pro League Season 18 Prize Pool
The distribution of the $850,000 prize pool will be allocated to all 32 participating teams according to their placements, as outlined below:
- $200,000
- $90,000
3-4. $50,000
5-8. $35,000
9-12. $25,000
13-16. $20,000
17-20. $15,000
21-28. $8,000
29-32. $4,000
ESL Pro League Season 18 Format
The thirty-two teams have been organized into four groups, each comprising eight teams, and half of them will advance. The team that secures the first position in each double-elimination group will directly qualify for the quarter-finals, without having to compete in the initial two knockout rounds.
The teams in second and third place will move forward to the first and second playoff rounds, respectively. Teams that are knocked out in the lower bracket of the group stage will transition to the Last Chance Stage, where they'll battle for survival in a single-elimination format.
Starting on September 26, the playoffs will unfold in a traditional single-elimination bracket configuration, with matches played as best-of-three encounters, culminating in an intense best-of-five final.
ESL Pro League Season 18 Schedule
The ESL Pro League Season 18 Group Stages will begin on August 30. The playoffs will follow suit almost a month later. The last two standing will battle it out for the title on October 1.
Wednesday, August 30 (Group A Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- FURIA Esports 0 vs. 2 Movistar Riders ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Greyhound 0 vs. 2 GamerLegion (09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Team Vitality 2 vs. 0 ORKS (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- Astralis 0 vs. 2 Ninjas vs. Pyjamas (09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Thursday, August 31 (Group A Mid Bracket Round 1)
- FURIA Esports 2 vs. 0 Grayhound (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- ORKS 0 vs. 2 Astralis (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Thursday, August 31(Group A Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- Movistar Riders 2 vs. 0 GamerLegion ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Team Vitality 2 vs. 0 Ninjas In Pyjamas (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Friday, September 1 (Group A, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- GamerLegion 0 vs. 2 Astralis (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- Ninjas in Pyjamas 0 vs. 2 FURIA Esports (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- ORKS 1 vs. 2 Grayhound (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- Astralis 2 vs. 0 FURIA Esports ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- FURIA Esports 2 vs. 0 Grayhound (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- GamerLegion 2 vs. 1 Ninjas in Pyjamas (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST
Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Upper Bracket Final)
- Team Vitality 2 vs. 0 Movistar Riders ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Lower Bracket Final)
- GamerLegion 0 vs. 2 FURIA Esports (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 6 (Group B, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- Heroic 2 vs. 0 Rooster ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- BIG 2 vs. 1 Monte ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- MOUZ 1 vs. 2 MIBR (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- Evil Geniuses 0 vs. 2 ENCE (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 7(Group B, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- Rooster 1 vs. 2 Monte (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- MOUZ 2 vs. 0 Evil Geniuses (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 7(Group B, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- Heroic 0 vs. 2 BIG ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- MIBR 1 vs. 2 ENCE (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Thursday, September 8 (Group B, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- MIBR 2 vs. 1 Monte ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Heroic 0 vs. 2 MOUZ (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Friday, September 9 (Group B, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- Rooster vs. Evil Geniuses (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Friday, September 9 (Group B, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- MIBR 0 vs. 2 MOUZ ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Friday, September 9 (Group B, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- Monte 2 vs. 1 Heroic (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- MIBR 2 vs. 1 Evil Geniuses (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Lower Bracket Final)
- Monte 2 vs. 0 MIBR (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST
Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Upper Bracket Final)
- BIG 1 vs. 2 ENCE ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Wednesday, September 13 (Group C, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- Apeks 2 vs. 0 M80 ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- 5yclone 0 vs. 2 Natus Vincere ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- FaZe Clan 2 vs. 0 9z Team (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- Imperial Esports 1 vs. 2 Fnatic (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Thursday, September 14 (Group C, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- M80 0 vs. 2 5yclone (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- 9z 0 vs. 2 Imperial (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Thursday, September 14 (Group C, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- Apeks 0 vs. 2 Natus Vincere ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- FaZe Clan 2 vs. 1 Fnatic (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Friday, September 15 (Group C, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- Fnatic 2 vs. 0 5yclone ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Apeks 2 vs. 0 Imperial (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Lower Bracket Quarterfinals)
- 9z 2 vs. 0 M80 (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- Apeks 1 vs. 2 Fnatic ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- Imperial 1 vs. 2 5yclone (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 17 (Group C, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- Apeks 0 vs. 2 9z (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 17 (Group C, Lower Bracket Final)
- 5yclone 1 vs. 2 9z (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 20 (Group D, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- Team Liquid 1 vs. 2 Virtus.pro ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Lynn Vision 0 vs. 2 G2 Esports ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Cloud9 2 vs. 0 Eternal Fire ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Complexity 2 vs. 1 9INE ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Thursday, September 21 (Group D, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- Cloud9 vs. Complexity ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Virtus.pro vs. G2 Esports (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Thursday, September 21 (Group D, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- Team Liquid vs. Lynn Vision (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- Eternal Fire vs. 9INE (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Friday, September 22 (Group D, Mid Bracket Quarterfinals)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 23 (Group D, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 23 (Group D, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Saturday, September 23 (Group D, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 24 (Group D, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 24 (Group D, Lower Bracket Final)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Tuesday, September 26 (Round of 16)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 08:30 PT/ 11:30 ET/ 15:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 08:30 PT/ 11:30 ET/ 15:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET/ 19:00 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET/ 19:00 CEST)
Wednesday, September 27 (Round of 12)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 08:30 PT/ 11:30 ET/ 15:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 08:30 PT/ 11:30 ET/ 15:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET/ 19:00 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET/ 19:00 CEST)
Thursday, September 28 (Quarterfinals)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 08:30 PT/ 11:30 ET/ 15:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 08:30 PT/ 11:30 ET/ 15:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET/ 19:00 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET/ 19:00 CEST)
Saturday, September 30 (Semifinals)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 08:30 PT/ 11:30 ET/ 15:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 12:00 PT/ 15:00 ET/ 19:00 CEST)
Sunday, October 1 (Grand Final)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)