ESL Pro League Season 19 Preview — The Bish Bash Bosh

Well, it turns out that the Summer Vacation was actually ESL Pro League. The ESL Pro League starts on April 23rd and this article will preview both Group A and Group B. Group C and D will be in another article.

This will be the first time that an ESL Pro League will concurrently with an ESL Challenger event. This ESL Pro League is going to be hard to predict other than potentially Faze or G2. There are so many groups that have 5–6 teams competing for 4 spots.

Now since we have the foreword out of the way, let’s get on with the show.

Group A

Group A consists of Faze, Impeial, Eternal Fire, Astralis, Virtus Pro, Fnatic, 3DMax and Saw. Saw replaces Cloud 9 who pulled out due to having no awp and losing electronic to Virtus Pro.

The story in this group is going to be within the initial matchups of Faze v Imperial and Eternal Fire v Astralis. That top half of the group is incredibly stacked an early battle between Astralis v Faze will see a high amount of viewership

Faze Clan

Faze return after winning IEM Chengdu with a massive defeat over Mouz (2–0). Faze can had finally shoved off its bridesmaid tag to earn the greater glory. With this game, a call for Bo5s was asked to be called back given that the previous showmatches had been lackluster. In unrelated news, Blast have answered that call and got rid of showmatches for a BO5.

Faze are the stalwart mainstay of the event. They are the example of an ideal team. An ingame leader that leads by example inside and outside of the server. Star players that fulfill their role and some more. An awper who can blaze across the stars. A team synergy that is unmatched and others can only watch in awe. Veins of ice in matches where any mistake could send them tumbling into despair never to return.

Faze are the team to beat at this event and everybody knows it.

Pros: Faze are literally everything put into one. There are no words that can describe at how amazing this team is. Even with the loss of twistzz, frozen has stepped in and offered more.

Cons: The only con is that Faze can struggle to respond to severe adversity such as being down 12–4 for example. They have also stated that they’re at their mental limit and who can really blame them given that they’ve grinded a lot of their victories.

Bosh: Faze will advance directly to the quarter-finals.

Imperial Esports

Imperial returned to the scene with former Furia player Vini with a line of returning former top brazilian players in HEN1 and felps. They are also sprinkled with younger upcoming stars of noway and decenty.

Imperial surprised tremendously at the majors where they defied a lot of predictions and ended up in the legends stage. However, their journey ended to the team that they face initially, Faze Clan.

Imperial will get a revenge match-up and hopefully they’re able to best them. However, I think they’re likely going to have fight in the lower brackets to make their way deeper into ESL Pro League

Pros: A great mix of young meets old lead by a very experienced IGL in Vini. They have the structure to make a decent team in the long-term and early results have fallen their way so far.

A heavy emphasis that Imperial is also another team that is defining their own journey rather than emulating the previous Brazilian Superstars in SK Gaming.

All players are bringing in their best efforts and strides too. Imperial are gearing up to be a contender in the next few tournaments

Cons: Unfortunately with the teams with younger and inexperienced players, close grindy games aren’t going to be their strong suit. They are going to make mistakes and mistakes that you can’t afford to make in ESL Pro League.

Bosh: Given the level of competition from the rest of the group members in Eternal Fire, Virtus Pro and Astralis. I believe Imperial go home in the Lower Bracket Final. It is not because that they were simply making up the numbers but simply because there are 5 teams and only 4 spots.

Eternal Fire

The beacons are lit and the turks have another start that isn’t Xantares just fragging out the entire server. Wicadia is his name and his odyessy started back in Dreamhack Jonkoping in 2023.

I said this before but thank god that Eternal Fire found out that changing your roster every couple of weeks only hurts your team. They have now set on Maj3r as the IGL with stars such as Calyx, XANTARES, Wicadia and Woxic in support.

This is a team hitting its stride and boy, have they shown it. However, with their recent Esports World Cup defeat to Sashi (ex-Espionage). It seems like the wheels could be slowly coming off. To be fair, they did beat Sashi earlier but Sashi should be a team that they easily beat.

Pros: I’m liking Wicadia and I’m liking this new Eternal Fire streaking across the sky. This has lifted a heavy weight of Xantares’s shoulders given that he is no longer the only win condition for Eternal Fire.

Not to mention the experience from Maj3r and others within the team can only boost Wicadia further.

Cons: With the recent loss to Sashi, I have a feeling that the wheels are starting to crack under pressure. Was this good streak from Eternal Fire a purple patch rather than a sign of things to come?

If Eternal Fire want to ascend into that Tier 1 status on a consistent basis, they have to make a deep run here.

The Bosh: They’ll sneak into the Round of 16 at the Middle Bracket. They will lose to Astralis (unfortunately, a rough first match-up). It’ll be a tough and close game against Astralis.

Astralis

After their heavy serving of humble pie with a side of crow, I’ve grown to have new found respect for Astralis. Even though they were eventually dethroned by Faze, they made an incredible impact on IEM Chengdu especially given people had written them off.

Device as an IGL has worked in the short-term and the honeymoon could continue here. Stabbi are actually starting show their value and underperformance seems to be a thing of the past.

br0 has just slotted right in and Staehr has gone from strength to strength. If they can topple Faze, what more can they do?

However, we should temper this with the honeymoon period. Nobody knows how Device would ingame leader hence there is very little to study. However, there are starting to be a few demos that they can study now.

I don’t think that is enough to make a counter-strategy against Device but it is something to consider.

Pros: The element of surprise lingers, the belief in device rises, stabbi and staehr blooming. Astralis could be the number 1 team in Denmark!

Cons: Cinderella stories generally end at midnight. Once Device’s style is found out, will this fairytale ending come crashing down? Highly likely

Bosh: However, after their hefty servings of humbie pie and crow. I think Astralis are going to get to the Round of 16 via the lower bracket. They’ll beat Eternal Fire but will lose to Faze and lose to Eternal Fire. The only team I see being somewhat of a challenge is Imperial.

Virtus Pro

Virtus Pro performed as expected at IEM Chengdu which was making it to the finals. However, the Bears are simply aren’t happy with just making it to the finals. They want to win everything. They want to catch the fish on every single attempt.

So they went out and pillaged Cloud 9 for electronic and benched mir. Mir had been underperforming for quite a bit which definitely held Virtus Pro back. Electronic has been a star rifler for Cloud 9 and can only bolster their stocks fully.

However, you’ll need to feel out on what electronic will provide to Virtus Pro before suddenly screaming “SUPERTEAM, SUPERTEAM”.

I don’t think we should be buying into any hype until Virtus Pro beat Faze in the UB Final or something like that.

Pros: Electronic is an upgrade to this roster and grouped with fame, fl1t and n0rb3r7. It can only get higher. I wonder what Jame can do with this star-studded lineup. N0rb3r7, fame and fl1t had amazing tournaments. Virtus Pro not only replaced a sub-optimal part but picked up an important cog for themselves.

Cons: Electronic wasn’t that great at the start of Cloud 9. You could say that he was an IGL rather than a rifler but that is something to be considered. Maybe this wil be a tournament where electronic learns his roles rather than shining bright.

Bosh: Virtus Pro are making it to the Round of 12, baby! Electronic is good but Faze are greater! Virtus Pro have a very easy path (mainly because they knocked Cloud 9 out by swooping on electronic…).

Fnatic

Fnatic have been silently brooding in the background as they slide into the Tier 2 Europe Scene. Fnatic who used to be a household name is starting to merge more and more with amourous blob known as Tier 2.

It doesn’t help that they lost to Betboom, Apeks and Koi. They have picked up Matys who has been a ray of shining light for them. Blessed by The elive who is an amazing players himself. Matys has raised fnatic above and beyond.

I’m surprised to see Krimz being on the roster and putting up the numbers that he is doing. Usually, there is a decline but Krimz is seemingly defying time itself. They’ve also picked up kyuubii from Sangal and bodyy from Falcons but the parts haven’t come together quite yet.

Will they come together now? Given their group, I think they’ll be overshadowed once again.

Pros: Matys is such an amazing player, if they can build around him and he goes on an absolute tear. Virtus Pro could be upset and they’ll take the easy path laid before them to get into the Round of 12. However, everybody needs to step up.

Cons: This roster is not firing on all cylinders when it really needs to in this group. There are already 5 strong teams and 4 spots in the playoffs for this group. You need to atleast beat an Imperial, Astralis or Eternal Fire otherwise you are going home.

Bosh: They’re going home in the lower bracket. They won’t make it past Imperial or Eternal Fire.

3DMax

3DMax are a fairly interesting team. This team has went through various of transitions and changes. However, the crucial one only happened last month is when hadji left the team.

Their coach has also been acquired by OG as well. Hadji leaving the team mixed with a switch of coach just adds insult into injury. 3DMax are extreme underdogs.

They have shown signs of life by beating Saw, Apeks, Forze, B8, Permitta and Bleed in various Tier 2 Tournaments. However, will this get them past Virtus Pro? And before that, Saw? Maybe for Saw but unlikely for Virtus Pro.

Once they fall into the abyss, they’ll be fighting against Astralis, Imperial and Eternal Fire. I just don’t think 3DMax can handle the heat. At the same time, they’ve been putting up some impressive and consistent results which could show what they are potentially capable of. They could pull off an upset.

Pros: They have performed consistently in Tier 2 which could lead to potential Tier 1 ascendancy. Their 5th will be potentially relatively unknown which could give them the surprise factor

Cons: Good results in Tier 2 don’t always translate to good results in Tier 1. There are some things that you can get away with in Tier 2 which you won’t in Tier 1. 3DMax are looking outclassed to Virtus Pro on paper and it only gets worse, the further they go down.

Bosh: Eliminated in the Lower Bracket Semi-Final. They’ll fight valiantly but they’ll still fall just the same.

Saw

The lucky replacements for Cloud 9. Saw have impressed a lot ever since their big run in the major. First, they made the major, secondly, they went 2–0 in the opening stage. However, they could not win a single Bo3 as they went from glory to elimination like Homer Simpson falling down stairs (doh! doh! doh!).

Saw’s recent rise to the major was on the back of the new and the old. Arrozdoce has been a revelation in this team. ewJerkz, story, RMN and muturis all chiming in.

Their ESL Challenger form has also been consistent with the only blip being against their first round opponents in 3DMax. And that was a close 2–1 loss.

Pros: Arrozdoce is looking like to be the Portuguese star for the future. Something for the Portuguese CS scene to build around.

Cons: It seems that Saw really do struggle in BO3s especially against T1/Upper T2 oponents. Is this because of map depth not being deep or consistent enough for Tier 1 or Tier 2 opponents? I reckon it could be.

Bosh: Their group is difficult and if they don’t get over their BO3 map depth problems, they’ll be gone in the first few days! I don’t see them qualifying either. It’ll be eliminated in the Lower Bracket somewhere. It is just wondering whether it’ll be by a contender or by one of the underdogs.

Group B

Now we move onto Group B as the title suggests. I hope this section is about Group B (and so do the readers!)

Group B consists of Vitality, Sharks, Betboom, M80, Falcons, The Mongolz, TyLul… sorry, I mean Tyloo and G2.

I feel bad for Tylul and Sharks. They’ll wake up and find themselves in the Mid Bracket within 30–45 minutes. However, the real matches are smooshed between the Vitality and G2 sandwich. Betboom v a rising M80 and the falling falcons v a resurging Mongolz.

I can really only see two teams that are highly likely to be eliminated which is Tyloo and Sharks. Tyloo have no real direction and seemingly going down the old Astralis route to recruit to have two rosters. The Sharks are just hopelessly outmatched and aren’t even the best team within South America.

Lets go through the teams then shall we?

Team Vitality

It feels like forever that this team has actually played… and you’d be right, the last time that Vitality played was at the major. And who did they lose to? Oh, that’s right, Faze. It seems to be that Faze is always instrumental in another team’s downfall.

Vitality have decided to get rid of all the danish citizens in their lineup (or alternatively, the Falcons decided to throw the bag to the danish players only — i mean look at their former players in Magisk, Dupreeh and Zonic!)

They picked up XTQZZZ as the coach and picked up mezii from Fnatic. Yes, a French organisation willingly signed up a British citizen to play CS2. I guess old hatreds between the British and the French are over after all. There is hope for the world. If Mezii is dropped now, it is probably because they found out he is British via this article. I mean didn’t his usage of crisps instead of chips give it away?

Let’s go back to being serious for a moment, Vitality have a strong team with a great coach, a great IGL and a great bunch of superstars. However, none of them have been firing. The rookie of the year, Zywoo hasn’t been himself, flamez and spinx have been struggling and well, same with Apex and Mezii.

Something is just hitting wrong for CS2. Vitality need to find out what before they’re in a hole that they can’t escape from without overhauling the core.

Pros: If Zywoo returns to his old ways, Vitality are going to just power through this tournament. If Spinx and Flamez spark the ignition, the lid will be blown right off. Vitality will be back

Cons: If they just continue to coast along, Vitality will just be a part of the scenary rather than main course. Apex will definitely not stand for that.

Bosh: I think this is the tournament that Zywoo will find his groove again. They have had a break which they can use to rest and rehone their skills. Expect massive plays and a Quarter-Final spot for Vitality.

Sharks

I don’t do too many trips into South America and looking at the Sharks in their local league where they are outclassed by Pain, Imperial, MIBR and so many others on a consistent basis that I feel that it’ll only compound in ESL Pro League.

I must admit that it is great to see a young brazilian roster but I just don’t see any of the experience, any of the composure or any veteran status. They look like that they’re coming to ESL Pro League on a field trip rather to be a serious contender. (Yes, this is your free motivation, Sharks — prove to me that you deserve to be here).

You need those coolant heads to prevail. The veterans with the clutch potential. The huge plays to turn a certain 13–10 to an OT finish. The sharks don’t have that and they don’t even have the credentials in their own region either.

Pros: An unknown element always can surprise. Some teams could overlook them and trip up. Unfortunately, Sharks aren’t vsing G2.

Cons: Inexperience, outclassed, outskilled, outgunned…. i could go on.

Bosh: They’ll be going home early but they’ll learn a lot from this. I guess a field trip term is apt.

Betboom

Well, Nafany has been trying to build a team to take revenge on Cloud 9 for dropping him for Boombl4 and electronic. And well, the revenge never came and Cloud 9 seem to caved in on itself.

However, Betboom need to go on a different adventure as the Revenge Tour has just faded away. Cloud 9 have just disappeared as quickly as they arrived without him.

Nafany recruited Magnojez from Spirit Academy and they still have kairon from VP, s1ren from spirit, zorte from Forze. This sort of lineup is essentially grabbing all the scrap parts from various CIS teams and trying to createa line up at out of it.

They’ve done quite well at it making it to the closed Qualifers of the Esports World Cup before getting done in by Cloud 9 (again). They won the A1 gaming league and came 3rd in Skyesports Masters 2024 after losing to OG.

However, Betboom haven’t really launched, they haven’t reached any of their objectives including their main one was to beat Cloud 9. They make the deep runs but haven’t made any incredible victories as of yet. They’re just there.

Pros: They have a large array of talent from various teams that have proven themselves. Zorte is an amazing clutch awper that they will want to keep if they wish to get anywhere

Cons: This is looking like a case of where the team is less than the sum of their parts. It just doesn’t seem to working to get to that next level.

The Bosh: I think it’ll be more of the same, M80 will cruise by and Betboom will probably be eliminated in the lower bracket final. Betboom will continue their freefall into obscurity.

M80

I love this team. That is all.

This team was served a turd sandwich at Katowice when mankz stepped down. Struck down at their prime. However, M80 defied the odds and picked up s1n and they’ve been putting up solid results ever since.

They simply got back on said bicycle and kept peddling to the max. They even sped by Team Liquid in the Esports World Cup qualifier which is just another feather to their cap.

The blood, sweat and tears (ok, that is a sensitive thing in NA CS now…) of Swisher, reck and Malbs after being great role models for the scene is FINALLY coming to fruitition.

This team has great utility, great trade potential, play off each other incredibly well. It is just one nice neat little package that you can watch and be like they are them. M80 are a hot prospect. Please stay being a hot prospect…..

The only downside was their Americas RMR where they were eliminated by Legacy. A bit of an underperformance as I thought they’d sneak into the major. An unfortunate turn for the worst.

Pros: Even with an IGL switch, it hasn’t impacted their surge to the top. After knocking down Liquid, the sky is the limit. They finally might each the final frontier in becoming the best NA Team.

Reck and Swisher are some of the most hard working individuals in this scene. The fact that Reck sacrificed being a star player to switch to an amazing support is the essence of what I appreciate in CS.

Cons: Well, they’re indeed rising but is their growth enough? Will it be enough to take down Vitality, G2 or any other contenders? S1n is a relatively new IGL to M80, is his system just a short-term fix. Could we have another Americas RMR on our hands?

Bosh: M80 will qualify to the round of 16 in the Mid Round bracket. I believe that this team is a real deal but not up to the level of Tier 1 teams yet.

Falcons

With the Falcons, I honestly don’t know where to start of begin. Their only good performance was at IEM Katowice. They’ve been getting eliminated from closed qualifiers, open qualifiers and never making it the main event.

They also get rid of BOROS and decide to publish a documentary with an unideal scene involving BOROS about changing his mouse. I do understand the main aspect is to be honest with your teammates but I felt that it was a bit too much.

A lot of things are seemingly scapegoated on BOROS as well but Falcons haven’t been playing well as a team overall. They’ve been playing absolutely abysmal. They just need one young aimer to replace BOROS and they go get…. Dupreeh?

What!? I’m so confused on why you would go for Dupreeh? You are going to be turning over that core VERY shortly with both Magisk and Snappi almost towards the end of their careers!

This communicates one thing, Falcons want to win trophies and they want to win them now. I don’t think they can do it with what they’ve got. Atleast they went more all in than the Dallas Cowboys.

Pros: They have the experience, they have the coach and they have a quality awper with a fragger in Maden

Cons: They don’t have that X factor that can change games. They don’t have Xy9nx here. Their weak form shows this and this weak form will continue

Bosh: Falcons to be going home earlier than expected. This team is burning out and the management decides to put in more players in the twilight of their career hoping to go Supernova. It isn’t going to happen. Eliminated at the Lower Bracket Semi-Final.

The Mongolz

The Mongolz have continued to dominate within Asia and this time with a younger roster. With Annihilation, sk0r and bart4k (ok, hasteka was a temporary replacement) all gone. They have rebuilt with Senzu (from NKT through controversial means…), 910 and Mzinho.

If you want to know the issues with Senzu, he borrowed some skins from his teammates and lost them while gambling. That is an issue that I hope The Mongolz have clamped him down on like Liquid did to s1mple.

However, despite the drama, The Mongolz surprised at the major by sneaking into the Elimination Stage and securing another slot for the Asia/Oceania scene. A massive reverse sweep from the Mongolz taking out Amkal, Lynn Vision and Legacy.

However, in the end, the rise of the Mongolz was short lived as they went 0–3 to Navi, Vitality and Pain.

They have recently taken down Atox again at their national championship and got into Dreamhack Summer again.

Signs are looking good at the Mongolz and they have also hired a psychologist. This is IMPORTANT because Mongolz have massive composure issues. This could be the turning block that could turn Mongolz from potential stars into them.

Pros: Mongolz have shown strong performances at the Major and within theie region. They can match it with high Tier 2 teams and compete with Tier 1 teams.

910, mzinho and senzu have shown no signs of stage fright. Techno and blitz still have it. This is the time of the rising Mongolz

Cons: They did went out meekly in the Elimination Stage. Do they simply curl up in a ball in the business end of tournaments?

Bosh: The Mongolz will make the Round of 16 in the Lower Bracket. Group B is such a hard group to predict when 6 teams have a chance of going through and that is crazy.

Tyloo

Well, ever since my Chengdu preview, nothing really much has changed for Tyloo. They’re now shuffling the roster again and nobody knows what is coming out (neither do they frankly).

Tyloo got knocked off the top bunk in the Chinese scene by Lynn Vision as expected. Tyloo have fallen off their perch and they are now beginning to understand the struggles to making it to the top.

They managed to defeat Lynn Vision but couldn’t keep it together against Rare Atom in the Esports World Cup qualifiers. Yep, that Rare Atom where they bought their current team. That has got to sting.

I don’t have much hope for Tyloo. Their performances are chaotic, they are inconsistent and their high end of their ceiling isn’t competitive for the tier 2 scene. They need a new IGL — they can’t have an underperforming IGL in this environment anymore.

However, they’re vsing G2. G2 like losing randomly to teams. Maybe they’ll give Tyloo, a gift.

Pros: With a win against Lynn Vision, maybe this experiment is finally coming together. Zdr looked amazing and really showed his colours. Mercury and JamYoung were supreme as well.

Cons: Tyloo’s biggest achilles heel is that Advent struggles immensely on the scoreboard effectively playing a 4v5 and pinning their hopes on Mercury/JamYoung to get an initial 2k.

Bosh: Tyloo will win against Sharks but will be going home to whoever comes up next. Tyloo have a lot of work to do.

G2

G2 are coming in with another 3rd place finish in Chengdu after a loss to the notable stage fright Mouz. I already hear the angry typing on how Hooxi should be replaced with X or Y IGL.

I mean Niko has edged out so many IGLs at this stage that Hooxi would be just adding to another list. However, analysts are beginning to pick up that maybe it isn’t Aleksib (who has won a major), Karrigan (who has won trophies) and Hooxi (who led CPH Flames to a deep run) that are the problem.

At this stage, who could Niko really get to come in? What sort of IGL would want to come in when any time that G2 lose, it is immediately their fault? Some sort of masochist?

However, G2 are now stuck with Hooxi whether he is the problem or not. However, the actual problem is whether they can keep m0nesy. You see, M0nesy hard carries this team with blistering performace after blistering performance. He is a true prodigy and an amazing pickup for G2.

The biggest issue once again is their rifling core. In the big matches, they just simply don’t show up. If Niko doesn’t win a major, it isn’t because he didn’t have the ability. It is because he didn’t simply have the patience to build a dynasty.

I want G2 to turn this around but it is whether they can do that in the limited time that Niko has remaining

Pros: When everything is on, G2 are nigh unbeatable. Hunter and Nexa need to lift. The trophy is within their grasp when they do.

Cons: With every failure, their justification to kick JKS becomes less and less. The glaring problem is that they need an anchor which has a sense of irony given it was JKS’s role.

Bosh: Despite, the amount that I’ve talked negative about G2. They are still a solid outfit — you just expect a top finish from a top team. They’ll make it to the round of 12. They could even beat Vitality too. However, I think they’ll crumble at the finish line but hey, round of 12 is better than going home early.

I hope all of you legends enjoyed this massive read and I hope you guys enjoy the ESL Pro League as much as I do.

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