ESL Pro League Season 20 Groups Stage Has Been Finalized

This year’s ESL Pro League Season 20 will begin on September 3, 2024, and the teams vying for playoff spots will compete in four triple-elimination groups format. Out of the 32 teams that qualified for the tournament, 16 will come out of the Groups stage and into the Playoffs, with 1st place team having a sure Quarter Finals spot, the 2nd place team will get a sure Round 12 spot, and the 3rd and 4th place teams will have a sure Round 16 spot.

Its winners shall grab a spot in the Playoffs where they will face off against one another to determine the tournament’s champions in May 2025.

Which Teams are In Which Group?

With 32 teams set to square off in intense Counter-Strike 2 action, the Group Stage will determine which teams will earn their spot to get to the Playoffs and have a shot at paving their way towards the championship. Here are the teams per Group:

GROUP A

FaZe Clan
Sangal Esports
FlyQuest
Eternal Fire
Heroic
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Lynn Vision
Natus Vincere (NAVI)

Who are the Favorites and Underdogs in Group A?

Many consider Group A as the weakest among the four groups. The favorites who are seen to come out on top of Group A once the dust has settled are FaZe Clan and NAVI. FaZe Clan has been a high-performing team, and in terms of consistency, they should be able to secure a spot in the Playoffs.

That said, many expect NAVI to bounce back in a big way after their subpar performance in the recently-concluded IEM Cologne final.

As for the underdogs of Group A, Eternal Fire and Ninjas in Pyjamas are gearing to be the two teams to look out for. Eternal Fire had a shaky season, but given their roster of talented players, namely XANTARES and woxic, it wouldn’t be surprising to see them pull off some upset wins during the Group Stage.

Meanwhile, NIP is set to make an impact in the Group Stage as they try end their season on a high note with a playoff spot.

GROUP B

Team Spirit
Wildcard Gaming
MIBR
9z Team
The MongolZ
3DMAX
Movistar KOI
G2 Esports

Who are the Favorites and Underdogs in Group B?

Team Spirit is still the overall favorite out of Group B due to their status as a long-standing and experienced CS2 team, despite their performance in the IEM Cologne that saw them fall in last place.

Another favorite in Group B is G2 Esports, since their team is composed of highly skilled players that can defeat any team they can face, provided they are on their A-Game.

As for the underdogs of Group B, 9z Team and Wildcard are teams to keep an eye out for. 9z Team managed to beat some formidable teams on LAN as of late, and the team’s synergy and performance has a high chance of spilling over Group B bracket.

Meanwhile, Wildcard has recently added two extremely talented players in phzy and susp which have resulted in the team winning all but two series. Expect them to ride this momentum as they compete to get out of the Group Stage.

GROUP C

MOUZ
Rooster
BIG
Imperial Esports
Complexity
M80
Fnatic
Astralis

Who are the Favorites and Underdogs in Group C?

MOUZ and Astralis are the clear favorites to come out on top of Group C. MOUZ had a strong season overall, as a 4-time ESL Pro League champion has recently won it all in BetBoom Dacha Belgrade 2024.

Astralis, on the other hand, as had a tumultuous season, but are still expected to get their act together just in time to finish at least second place in Group C.

For the underdogs, Imperial Esports and Fnatic have the potential to make some noise and snag some wins. Imperial Esports, their young core of try, decenty, and noway are proving to be a fun lineup that can make any team have a run for their money.

Meanwhile, Fnatic will have their first LAN of this tier since adding blameF. This roster change will be put to the test, and in the highest level of competition, should they manage to get that playoff spot.

GROUP D

Team Vitality
ATOX
FURIA
Team Falcons
Team Liquid
ENCE
RED Canids
Virtus.pro

Who are the Favorites and Underdogs in Group D?

Vitality is the clear favorites in Group D following their impressive win at IEM Cologne 2024. While there have been whispers of potential roster changes, Vitality is still riding high on their IEM Cologne 2024 performance and expect to get out of Group D in first place.

Team Liquid is another team that are expected to nab a playoff spot. This is due to strong showing since Twistzz took over as IGL. This, along with ultimate’s stellar performance are TL’s big guns they intend to use as they battle to get out of Group D.

FURIA and Team Falcons are the underdogs of Group D. FURIA recently had a commendable performance at BetBoom Dacha Belgrade Season 2 which saw FalleN running it back to his 2016 self for an improbable yet refreshing run. This showing was a high note from an otherwise subpar season so far.

As for Team Falcons, its players are playing for their spot come 2025, thanks in large part to rumors about NiKo’s impending arrival to the team. This development could result in some solid and surprising results once the Group Stage begins.