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
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
Group B
Group C
Group D
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 vs. Movistar Riders ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Greyhound vs. GamerLegion (09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Team Vitality vs. ORKS (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- Astralis vs. Ninjas vs. Pyjamas (09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Thursday, August 31 (Group A Mid Bracket Round 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Thursday, August 31(Group A Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Friday, September 1 (Group A, Mid Bracket Semifinals)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Saturday, September 2 (Group A, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 3, (Group A, Lower Bracket Final)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 6 (Group B, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- Heroic vs. Rooster ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- BIG vs. Monte ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- MOUZ vs. MIBR (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- Evil Geniuses vs. ENCE (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 7(Group B, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 7(Group B, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Thursday, September 8 (Group B, 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)
Friday, September 9 (Group B, Lower Bracket Quarterfinal)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Friday, September 9 (Group B, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Friday, September 9 (Group B, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 10 (Group B, Lower Bracket Final)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 13 (Group C, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- Apeks vs. M80 ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- 5yclone vs. Natus Vincere ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- FaZe Clan vs. 9z Team (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- Imperial Esports vs. Fnatic (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Thursday, September 14 (Group C, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Thursday, September 14 (Group C, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Friday, September 15 (Group C, 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 16 (Group C, Lower Bracket Quarterfinals)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Mid Bracket Semifinal)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Saturday, September 16 (Group C, Lower Bracket Semifinal 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 17 (Group C, Lower Bracket Semifinal 2)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
Sunday, September 17 (Group C, Lower Bracket Final)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
Wednesday, September 20 (Group D, Upper Bracket Quarterfinals)
- Team Liquid vs. Virtus.pro ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Lynn Vision vs. G2 Esports ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Cloud9 vs. Eternal Fire ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
- Complexity vs. 9INE ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Thursday, September 21 (Group D, Upper Bracket Semifinals)
- TBD vs. TBD (05:30 PT/ 08:30 ET/ 12:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD ( 09:00 PT/ 12:00 ET/ 16:00 CEST)
Thursday, September 21 (Group D, Mid Bracket Round 1)
- TBD vs. TBD (12:30 PT/ 15:30 ET/ 19:30 CEST)
- TBD vs. TBD (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)