ESL has released the group and pairings for the first round of the 20th season of the ESL Pro League.
A total of 32 teams will fight according to the same system as the previous season for the title of ESL Pro League champion, which was successfully defended by MOUZ last season. Once again, the teams will each have three chances to reach the playoffs, that is, a specific system of triple eliminations will be played.
Groups A and B will be played on the week of September 3, while Groups C and D will be played on September 10.
Group A: FaZe Clan, Sangal Esports, FlyQuest, Eternal Fire, Heroic, Ninjas in Pajamas, Lynn Vision, Natus Vincere
Group B: Team Spirit, Wildcard, MiBR, 9z Team, The MongolZ, 3DMAX, KOI, G2 Esports
Group C: MOUZ, Rooster, BIG, Imperial Esports, Complexity, M80, Fnatic, Astralis
Group D: Team Vitality, ATOX Esports, FURIA Esports, Team Falcons, Team Liquid, ENCE, RED Canids, Virtus.pro
Group A and D appear the most uncertain, while Group D featuring Spirit and G2 appears perhaps the weakest on paper. Four teams from each group will advance to the playoffs, and which stage they will play in will depend on their performance in the group.
Pairs Group A:
FaZe - Sangal
FlyQuest - Eternal Fire
Heroic - Ninjas in Pajamas
Lynn Vision - Na'Vi
Pairs of group B:
Team Spirit - Wildcard
MiBR - 9z Team
The MongolZ - 3DMAX
G2 Esports - KOI
Pairs of Group C:
MOUSE - Rooster
BIG - Imperial
Complexity - M80
Fnatic - Astralis
Pairs of Group D:
Vitality - ATOX
FURIA - Falcons
Liquid - ENCE
RED Canids - Virtus.pro
