ESL has announced a format update for ESL Pro League Season 23 in Counter-Strike 2. Key changes include playoff matches being played in an arena starting in 2026 and the introduction of new Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) open qualifiers in Europe and North America.
New Qualification System and Teams
The tournament will feature 24 teams, including:
- 17 highest-ranked teams according to the Valve rankings
- Winners of ESL Challenger League Season 50 in Europe, Asia, and Oceania
- Top two teams from ESL Challenger League Season 50 in the Americas
- Winners of the new BYOC qualifiers in Europe and North America
Tournament Format and Prize Pool
- Group Stages 1 & 2 will be played online on European servers in a Swiss system format.
- Playoffs will now take place in an arena, adding a new third-place match.
- The $1 million prize pool will be split separately between teams and players:
- The winning team will receive $150,000
- The players will share $100,000
Event Dates
ESL Pro League Season 23 will take place from February 27 to March 15, 2026.
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