Eight Teams Locked In as ESL Pro League Season 22 Playoffs Begin

The stage is set for one of Counter-Strike’s biggest showdowns of the year. ESL Pro League Season 22 has reached its playoff phase, with eight of the world’s best teams gearing up for a weekend packed with high-stakes clashes and potential upsets.

After two weeks of gruelling Swiss-stage battles, only eight teams remain: Team Spirit, FaZe Clan, 3DMAX, Natus Vincere (NAVI), MOUZ, Team Vitality, Team Falcons, and FURIA. Each squad has fought through a series of tough matchups to earn a shot at the prestigious Pro League title, and a step closer to the multi-million-dollar ESL Grand Slam.

THE 8 TEAMS IN THE #ESLProLeague SEASON 22 PLAYOFFS 👇@FalconsEsport @Team__Spirit @FURIA @mousesports @TeamVitalityCS @natusvincere @3DMAXGaming@FaZeEsports pic.twitter.com/KuD1j0L78J

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) October 8, 2025

A Stacked Playoff Line-Up

Six of the top ten teams from October’s Valve Regional Standings have made it through, setting up a star-studded bracket. Team Spirit enters as the top seed after an unbeaten run through Stage 2, dominating Inner Circle Esports, HOTU, and G2 Esports to secure a flawless 3-0 record.

FaZe Clan’s playoff return is another storyline to watch. With Håvard ‘rain’ Nygaard back for his final run, FaZe survived a rocky start that included a forfeit to G2 and a loss to 3DMAX before turning it around with three straight wins. Their latest victory against Aurora Gaming sealed their spot in the bracket, and possibly one last dance for rain.

3DMAX, meanwhile, continues to wave the French Counter-Strike flag proudly. Despite dropping games to FURIA and FaZe, they bounced back to earn a top-eight finish, a sign of strong momentum heading into future events like the CS Asia Championship and the StarLadder Budapest Major.

NAVI, always a fan favourite, took the longest route to qualify, enduring two early defeats before finding their rhythm with wins over HOTU and The MongolZ. They’ll face MOUZ in the quarter-finals, a rematch from earlier this year that promises fireworks.

MOUZ, the model of consistency, secured their place after sweeping GamerLegion, Gentle Mates, and 3DMAX. Despite not lifting a trophy since PGL Cluj-Napoca in February, their form suggests they could finally break the drought.

Team Vitality will look to defend their Season 21 title after recovering from a shaky start against Gentle Mates. Since then, the French side has shown championship form, sweeping through their next three series.

Team Falcons, still chasing their first trophy in six months, will face 3DMAX in the playoff opener. The duo of Ilya ‘m0NESY’ Osipov and Maxim ‘kyousuke’ Lukin is beginning to click, making Falcons one of the dark horses to watch.

Finally, there’s FURIA. The Brazilian powerhouse enters on a high after winning the FISSURE Playground 2 tournament. Their new international lineup is firing on all cylinders, and their matchup against reigning champions Vitality might be the most explosive of the opening round.
(You can read more about FURIA’s recent success in our feature: FURIA Finally Lift First Big Event Trophy at FISSURE Playground 2)

ESL Pro League Season 22 Playoff Schedule

The ESL Pro League S22 Playoffs kick off on Friday, 10 October 2025, with all matches broadcast live on ESL’s official Twitch and YouTube channels. Match times below are converted to CEST (Central European Summer Time) for global fans.

With a packed bracket, the ESL Pro League Season 22 Playoffs promise an action-filled weekend that could deliver major storylines, from rain’s farewell run to FURIA’s redemption arc. One thing’s certain: Counter-Strike fans are in for a treat.