The newest season of the ESL Pro League now features 24 teams from across the globe, especially with an exciting new stage for the competition. The new conference stage for the EPL had its debut during the EPL S15 and was carried out to the S16.
There are six (6) teams from the ESL Pro League Season 16 Conference Stage, three (3) teams from the ESL World Ranking, and fifteen (15) teams who are already permanent partner teams for the EPL. The final round of the events, which will take place in Malta, will feature the twenty-four (24) teams competing for $850,000 and circuit points.
With the recently concluded Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) tournaments, fans are now looking forward to the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 16 which will be held from August 31 to October 2, 2023. And here are the things that you need to know more about the upcoming ESL S16:
Things You Need to Know More About ESL Pro League Season 16
ESL Pro League Season 16 is one of the CSGO tournaments you don’t have to miss as this season features the finest teams in the world and would put on a show that surely fans would love to see.
Tournament Format
Before the commencement of the ESL Pro League Season 16 Group Stage, the organizer held a Conference Stage wherein sixteen (16) teams battled it out for the final six (6) spots for the Group Stage. The teams that participated in the Conference Stage were winners from ESL Challenger #48, ESEA S39 EU Premier, ESEA S39 AU Premier, ECL S40 Europe, ECL S40 North America, ANZ Champs, Premiership, Meisterschaft, Mistrrzostwa Polski, Masters Espana, Championnat National, National Champ Qualifier, South American Qualifier, and ECL S40 Asia-Pacific.
And with the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 16 Group Stage, the tournament format will be held through the following:
Group Stage
- Four groups of one round robin each
- Each group will have six participating teams
- Every team plays each other once.
- All games are in Best of 3 formats.
- Teams who finish first in Group will proceed to the Quarterfinals.
- Teams that finish second and third in a group will advance to the Round of 12.
Playoffs
- The bracket will be in a single-elimination mode
- Bo3 is used for all games (excluding the championship).
- The Grand Final match will be played in a Best-of-5 series.
Prize Pool and Circuit Points Distribution
The $835,000 prize pool and the 7,000 BLAST Premier points will be split up into the twenty-four (24) teams below:
| Place | USD Distribution | Seed | Circuit Points | Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Place | 175,000 USD | BLAST World Final 2023 /IEM Katowice 2023 | 2800 points | TBA |
| 2nd Place | 70,000 USD | – | 1400 points | TBA |
| 3rd – 4th Place | 35,000 USD | – | 875 points | TBA |
| 5th – 8th Place | 17,500 USD | – | 262.5 points | TBA |
| 9th – 12th Place | 12,000 USD | – | – | TBA |
| 13th – 16th Place | 9,000 USD | – | – | TBA |
| 17th – 20th Place | 7,500 USD | – | – | TBA |
| 21st – 24th Place | 6,000 USD | – | – | TBA |
Additionally, winning teams in the group rounds will get $5,000 extra. The winning team will also be guaranteed a spot in the BLAST World Final in 2023. Also, there will be 24 teams vying for the championship in the group stage, the same as in previous ESL Pro League seasons. Fifteen participating teams are invited directly because they are permanent partner teams. And based on the results of the ESL World Ranking and six slots from the Conference Stage, three teams are invited, which explains why there are different levels in the tournament for the title.
Participating Teams
If you’re a CSGO enthusiast, a bettor, or a casual fan, you would love to see the following teams that will compete for the upcoming ESL Pro League Season 16. And here are the twenty-four (24) teams and their updated roster:
| No. | Team | Players | Seed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Astralis | Xyp9x, gla1ve, k0nfig, blameF, farlig, trace | Permanent Partner Team |
| 2 | BIG | tabseN, tiziaN, syrsoN, faveN, Krimbo, gob b | Permanent Partner Team |
| 3 | Complexity Gaming | JT, FaNg, floppy, Grim, junior, T.c | Permanent Partner Team |
| 4 | ENCE | Snappi, Spinx, dycha, hades, maden, sAw | Permanent Partner Team |
| 5 | Evil Geniuses | Brehze, CeRq, Stewie2K, autimatic, RUSH | Permanent Partner Team |
| 6 | FaZe Clan | rain, broky, Twistzz, karrigan, ropz, RobbaN | Permanent Partner Team |
| 7 | Fnatic | KRIMZ, mezil, nicoodoz, roeJ, TBD, keita | Permanent Partner Team |
| 8 | FURIA Esports | yuurih, arT, KSCERATO, drop, saffee, guerri | Permanent Partner Team |
| 9 | G2 Esports | JACKZ, huNter-, NiKo, m0NESY, Aleksib, XTQZZ | Permanent Partner Team |
| 10 | Heroic | stavn, cadiaN, TeSeS, sjuush, Jabbi, Xizt | Permanent Partner Team |
| 11 | MOUZ | frozen, Bymas, dexter, torzsi, JDC, sycrone | Permanent Partner Team |
| 12 | Natus Vincere | s1mple, electroNic, Perfecto, b1t, TBD, B1ad3 | Permanent Partner Team |
| 13 | Ninjas in Pyjamas | REZ, Plopski. hampus, es3tag, Brollan, djL | Permanent Partner Team |
| 14 | Team Liquid | EliGE, NAF, oSee, nitr0, TBD, daps | Permanent Partner Team |
| 15 | Team Vitality | apEX, ZywOo, misutaaa, dupreeh, Magisk, zonic | ESL World Ranking |
| 16 | Cloud9 | nafany, sh1ro, interz, Ax1Le, HObbit, groove | ESL World Ranking |
| 17 | Movistar Riders | mopoz, ALEX, DeathZz, SunPayus, dav1g, bladE | ESL World Ranking |
| 18 | Team Spirit | chopper, magixx, Patsi, s1ren, w0nderful, hally | Conference Stage WInner |
| 19 | MIBR | chelo, exit, Tuurtle, JOTA, brnz4n, bit | Conference Stage Winner |
| 20 | Endpoint | Surreal, CRUC1AL, MIGHTYMAX, Nertz, Kjaerbye, Rejin | Conference Stage Winner |
| 21 | Eternal Fire | XANTARES, woxic, imoRR, MAJ3R, paz, hardstyle | Conference Stage Winner |
| 22 | Outsiders | Qikert, Jame, FL1T, n0rb3r7, fame, dastan | Conference Stage Winner |
| 23 | HEET | Lucky, bodyy, afro, Djoko, Ex3rcice, matHEND | Conference Stage Winner |
| 24 | FTW | DDias, arrozdoce, Ag1l, stadodo, kst, vtsPa | Conference Stage WInner |
Conclusion
It is without a doubt that ESL Pro League Season 16 will be one of the most awaited and most hyped Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) tournaments for this year as there is no guaranteed winner on who will take 175,000 USD and direct seed for BLAST World Final 2023 and IEM Katowice 2023.
