ESL Pro League Season 21

Past events Mar 13

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League Information

Series:

ESL Pro League
Intel Grand Slam

Organizer:

ESL

Type:

Offline

Location:

Sweden, Stockholm

Venue:

ESL Studio

Prize Pool:

$1,000,000

Start Date:

2025-03-01

End Date:

2025-03-16

Teams:

ESL Pro Tour Tier:

Masters

Valve Tier:

Tier 1

Maps:

Ancient • Anubis • Dust II • Inferno • Mirage • Nuke • Train

ESL Pro League returns in a new location, new format, and with 24 teams vying for a share of a $1,000,000 prize pool—including $400,000 for players and $600,000 for clubs. After previously hosting in Malta, ESL has moved the action to its studios in Stockholm. Unlike past seasons, there will be no live crowd for the playoffs, and the event’s structure now features two Swiss-style group stages before an eight-team single-elimination playoff.

16 squads received direct invitations, while 8 more qualified through ESL Challenger Leagues or other regional pathways, making up the total of 24. In a notable twist, FaZe declined their invite, meaning some of the highest-profile action will come from Spirit, Vitality, G2, Natus Vincere, Liquid, and others returning after missing recent PGL Cluj-Napoca.

The tournament is split into three stages:

Stage 1 (March 1–5): A 16-team Swiss System format. All matches are best-of-three, with the top eight advancing to Stage 2. Seeding is determined by a team-selected system—adopted from ESL’s IEM Katowice 2019 Major—and then adjusted by Live Ratings after every match.
Stage 2 (March 7–16): Another Swiss System bracket under the same match rules (best-of-three) and seeding approach. Again, the top eight move on to the playoffs.
Playoffs: An eight-team single-elimination gauntlet where every match is a best-of-three, except for the Grand Final, which is a best-of-five. There is no third-place decider.

Throughout the stages, teams’ Live Ratings will continue to update after each match to ensure competitive seeding. This unique system aims to keep matchups fair and unpredictable. With $400,000 specifically allocated to players, the stakes are as high as ever—especially for teams that value the additional $600,000 designated for clubs.

Missing from the lineup are some big names like FaZe, who declined their invite, and teams like Complexity, BIG, and Astralis, who narrowly missed out through Valve’s January 6 Regional Standings. Even so, excitement is high as HEROIC (acquiring the Sangal core that won ECL48 in Europe), Housebets, and Mindfreak bring fresh competition to the Pro League stage.

Don’t miss this high-stakes chapter, ESL Pro League Season 21 promises fierce battles, strategic depth, and all the drama fans expect from one of esports’ most prestigious events!