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ESL Pro League S23 Finals: Teams, Bracket, Schedule, and More
With Astralis defeating FURIA in the final match of ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 2, the eight-team playoffs lineup is now set. The single-elimination bracket will kick off with best-of-three matches and culminate in a best-of-five Grand Final. All playoff matches will be played in front of a live audience at the Annexet in Stockholm, Sweden.
Over the next three days, CS2 fans can look forward to high-stakes action featuring a mix of top-tier squads and rising underdogs. Below is everything you need to know about the ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals.
Qualified Teams
Stage 2 saw several strong contenders, like FURIA, FaZe, and G2, get eliminated despite their potential. Nevertheless, the eight teams that advanced bring plenty of firepower to the finals. Below are the qualified teams and their expected lineups:
|
Teams |
Players |
|
magixx, zont1x, donk, sh1ro, tN1R | |
|
torzsi, xertioN, Jimpphat, Brollan, Spinx | |
|
bLitz, Techno4K, 910, mzinho, cobrazera | |
|
XANTARES, MAJ3R, Wicadia, woxic, soulfly | |
|
latto, dumau, saadzin, n1ssim, arT | |
|
b1t, Aleksib, iM, w0nderful, makazze | |
|
dem0n, Krabeni, cmtry, dziugss, lauNX | |
|
Staehr, jabbi, HooXi, phzy, ryu |
What to Expect in ESL Pro League S23 Finals
With perfect 3-0 records in Stage 2, MOUZ and Spirit enter the playoffs as the teams to beat. Both were already among the pre-tournament favorites, especially with Vitality out of the picture, and they've done nothing but strengthen that case.
MOUZ entered 2026 as one of the world's most consistent teams, trailing only Vitality. Now, after three consecutive wins, including victories over fellow playoff squads Astralis and The MongolZ, they look like a formidable contender. A potential semifinal rematch with The MongolZ only adds to the intrigue.
Team Spirit breezed through Stage 2 with wins over G2, B8, and 3DMAX, dropping just one map (to B8) along the way. So far this year, they've lost only two matches out of 11, one of those wins coming against fellow top contender MOUZ. Even with donk seemingly not yet at his full potential, Spirit appears to have a firm grip on the rest of the playoff field.
The other six teams are no pushovers either. With the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) rankings now being the gateway to most tournaments, beating top teams is everything, and the ESL Pro League is the perfect place to do it. With the IEM Cologne Major just months away, performances over this period could prove decisive for teams hoping to secure their spot on Counter-Strike's biggest stage.
Schedule
Friday, March 13th
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The MongolZ vs Natus Vincere - 2 am PDT / 10 am CET
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Legacy vs Aurora - 5:15 am PDT / 1:15 pm CET
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MOUZ vs FUT - 8:30 am PDT / 4:30 pm CET
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Astralis vs Spirit - 11:15 am PDT / 7:45 pm CET
Saturday, March 14th
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Semifinal #1 - 7:45 am PDT / 3:45 pm CET
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Semifinal #2 - 11 am PDT / 7 pm CET
Sunday, March 15th
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3rd Place Decider Match - 5:30 am PDT / 1:30 pm CET
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Grand Final - 9 am PDT / 5 pm CET
Where to Watch ESL Pro League Finals
You can catch all the playoff matches live on ESL’s official YouTube and Twitch handles. The ESL Pro League Season 23 Finals will kick off with The MongolZ facing NAVI on March 13, at 2 am PDT / 10 am CET.
You can also follow the tournament on Strafe.
Don't forget to follow Strafe Esports for the latest news about your favorite esports and to check out our X account for the most recent content and coverage.
Also, stay tuned to the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and much more.
Featured Image Credit: ESL Counter Strike
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ESL Pro League S23: Schedule, Teams, Format, and More
